Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 4
Trend:
It is necessary to completely liberate Azerbaijan's occupied lands to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and establish peace in the region, said Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
He made the remarks Dec. 4 at the ADA University in Baku.
Davutoglu further urged Armenia to liberate the territories not belonging to it. He also said Turkey will remain by Azerbaijan's side in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict until the very end.
"Turkey will be by Azerbaijan's side until a complete liberation of Azerbaijani territories. Each inch of Azerbaijan's land is dear, and those lands should be liberated," noted PM Davutoglu.
He also said the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict's settlement will contribute to the peace and stability in the South Caucasus.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.