Azerbaijan, Gabala, Aug. 16 / Trend. Trend A.Badalova /
The resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be a significant progress in providing peace, stability and prosperity in Eurasian area, according to the joint declaration adopted at the third Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States held in Gabala (Azerbaijan) on Friday.
The summit was attended by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Turkey Abdullah Gul, President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
In a joint declaration the parties reiterated the importance they attach to the peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is one of the main obstacles to lasting stability and regional cooperation on the basis of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The parties emphasized the aim at strengthening political and economic security of the States in accordance with the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders, non-interference in internal affairs.
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 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.
The third Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States was held in Azerbaijani city of Gabala on Aug. 16.
The main topic of the discussion at the third Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States was the issues of cooperation in transport sphere and simplification of customs procedures.
A meeting of foreign ministers of the Turkic speaking states was held on the eve of the summit.
The summit's agenda and cooperation prospects within the organization were discussed during the meeting.
The Council was established in 2009 by the Member States - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey - with a purpose to make a joint contribution to peace and stability in Eurasia. The organization's secretariat is located in Istanbul.
The city of Gabala is situated in the north of Azerbaijan, in 220 kilometres of the country's capital Baku.