Baku, Azerbaijan, March 3
Trend:
Azerbaijan attaches special importance to the development of relations with the countries of Balkan region, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on Mar.3.
He made the remarks during a meeting with the Slovenian delegation led by the chairman of this country's National Council Mitja Bervar in Baku.
During the meeting, the sides expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Slovenia and emphasized the importance of developing the cooperation, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.
Bervar reminded about the statement made by the supreme legislative body of Slovenia on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and added that this statement supports the peaceful settlement of the conflict within OSCE Minsk Group and on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions.
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.
Mammadyarov, for his part, said that changing the internationally recognized borders is inadmissible and each country should respect the norms and principles of the international law.
Moreover, Bervar congratulated Azerbaijan over holding the upcoming first European Games in Baku in June 2015 and said that a lot of Slovenian athletes will participate in the Games.
Mammadyarov, for his part, said that Azerbaijan and Slovenia are bound by historical ties and added that Azerbaijanis showed courage during the liberation of Slovenia from fascist invaders during the Second World War.
The foreign minister said that Azerbaijan attaches special importance to the development of relations with the Balkan states.
Mammadyarov added that the two countries have the opportunity to develop the bilateral cooperation in the spheres of energy, economy and trade, investments, culture and sports.
Edited by SI