Baku, Azerbaijan March 4
Trend:
Recognition of any territorial entity is under the powers of the US Federal Government, according to the US law, Hikmet Hajiyev, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, told Trend March 4.
He was commenting on the "recognition" of the "independence" of Azerbaijan's occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region by the US State of Georgia.
Hajiyev added that the US recognizes Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty within the internationally recognized borders.
"After the 15-minute discussions, the House of Representatives of the State of Georgia adopted some sort of a resolution on alleged "recognition" of the regime created on the territory of Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region occupied by Armenia," said the spokesperson.
Hajiyev added that with such pathetic and provocative actions, Armenia tries to harm the peace talks held in line with the international norms and principles, UN Security Council resolutions, as well as the efforts aimed at restoring peace and security in the region.
Thereby, Armenia tries to continue the occupation of Azerbaijani lands and maintain the status quo, Hajiyev said.
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 withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.