Greece, Athens, Dec. 2 / Trend E.Huseynov /
Unresolved conflicts are a threat to security and stability in the South Caucasus, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Athens today.
"Every conflict requires an individual approach," he said, adding that it is necessary to adhere to general principles of international law while seeking their resolution.
According to Davutoglu, respect for territorial integrity is the basis of any settlement.
"In this regard I wish to reiterate Turkey's support for the mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group. We ask both parties to use the results achieved to reach a breakthrough without any futher delay," the minister said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Davutoglu added that the war in Georgia in 2008 demonstrated that so-called "frozen conflicts" are more dangerous than initially supposed.
"The damage done to the political situation in the region and its negative consequences have not been solved. The successful outcome of the Geneva talks will be the first step in this direction," he said.
Military actions began in de facto South Ossetia Aug. 8, 2008. Georgian troops entered the capital Tskhinvali. Later Russian troops occupied the city and drove the Georgian military back to Georgia. Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Aug. 26.