Ganja, Azerbaijan, Feb. 19
By Emil Huseynov - Trend:
Frozen conflicts are an obstacle to establishment of peace in the Caucasus, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Feb. 19.
He made the remarks at a press conference dedicated to the results of the third meeting of foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey in Ganja.
He said that all parties must do their utmost to resolve the frozen conflicts.
Regarding the opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia, Davutoglu said this will not happen unless the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is solved and Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is restored.
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 E.A.
Edited by C.N.