...

Azerbaijani FM expected to meet with OSCE MG co-chairs in Brussels

Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Materials 29 April 2016 13:34 (UTC +04:00)
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov is expected to meet with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in Brussels in May.
Azerbaijani FM expected to meet with OSCE MG co-chairs in Brussels

Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr.29

By Seba Aghayeva - Trend:

Azerbaijan has never rejected the negotiation process in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said Apr.29.

"We plan to meet with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in one of the European cities, likely in Brussels, next month," said Mammadyarov during the briefing following the talks with his Maltese counterpart George William Vella in Baku.

"The exact date and time will be determined later," he said.

Commenting on the remarks made by Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan about the conditions for resuming the negotiations, the minister said that it is impossible to achieve peace by putting forward conditions.

"If anyone in Yerevan believes that it will be possible to continue the negotiation process and maintain the status-quo by putting forward conditions, he is mistaken," said Mammadyarov.

The minister added that with its actions, Armenia puts the ceasefire agreement dated 1994-1995 under threat.

"Armenians should understand that it is impossible to resolve the conflict by military means," he said. "But it doesn't mean that the talks can continue eternally."

Mammadyarov pointed out that Azerbaijan firmly adheres to its position.

"The UN Security Council's resolutions should be fulfilled unconditionally. First of all, Armenian armed forces should be withdrawn from the occupied territories," he said. "Only after this, the negotiations can start on other remaining issues, such as the return of the IDPs [to their homes], restoration of communications and so on."

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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Asebaa

Tags:
Latest

Latest