Azerbaijan, Baku, May 24 / Trend M.Aliyev /
The so-called "elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh serves to extend the separatist regime, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and Political Department head Ali Hasanov told Trend today.
"This election serves to legalize illegal Armenianactivity in Nagorno Karabakh. The elections cannot be considered legitimate unless Azerbaijan and Armenia agree on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, sign an agreement and allow the IDP population to return home," Hasanov said.
The separatist regime held so-called parliamentary "elections" May 23. Many international organizations, including the EU, said they will not recognize the election.
Hasanov said it is impossible to hold an election in the region, as half of the population was displaced.
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 seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the United States - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.