Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 5
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:
NATO is concerned by the escalation of tension on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian armies, NATO Liaison Officer in South Caucasus William Lahue told reporters in Baku on Aug.5.
He underscored that the escalation of tension on the Armenian-Azerbaijani contact line causes a threat not only for Azerbaijan and Armenia, but also for the stability of the whole region. Lahue added that the sides should take measures to reduce the tension on the contact line.
He stressed that NATO stands for the peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, adding that the organization will continue to support Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.
During the last four days, Azerbaijani positions have been constantly under attack, and 13 servicemen have been killed, several more were wounded. The Armenian side suffered more losses while trying to hide this fact from the public.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries 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.
Edited by CN