Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.25
By Sabina Ahmadova -Trend:
At this stage, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict deserves particular attention with the rising tension on the contact line, Didier Burkhalter, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for 2014 and Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, said in his speech at the meeting of the UN Security Council in New York.
"As tensions rising lately with several violent incidents, this conflict deserves special attention," he said.
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office also noted that, Swiss chairmanship will maintain and support the established format for conflict settlement, primarily the Minsk Group co-chaired by the U.S., Russia and France.
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.
Translated by S.I.
Edited by C.N