Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 16 / Trend I. Isabalayeva /
World Tourism Organization (WTO) Secretary General Taleb Rifai has expressed his attitude about the destruction of cultural monuments and tourist sites in Azerbaijani occupied territories.
The main purpose of the World Tourism Organization is to promote and to preserve the cultural and historical heritage, he told media in Baku.
"We think that the cultural and historical monuments of any country do not belong to only this country," he said. "This is the common property of all mankind. Therefore, we strive not to have any problems in this area."
He expressed hope for rapid settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Afterwards, he will be able to see the tourism opportunities in the region.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent 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 U.S. 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 and the surrounding regions.