Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.24
By Nigar Guliyeva- Trend:
President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, George Tsereteli stressed a need to redouble the efforts on resolution of the conflicts in the region, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
“Whether we’re talking about the conflicts in Ukraine, about Nagorno-Karabakh, or about the conflict in Georgia and occupation of territories – all of these have tragic human consequences each and every day,” he said in his first address as OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President to Council of Europe parliamentarians in Copenhagen Nov.24. “This must continue to be our focus.”
“One of my priorities as President is to ensure that the OSCE is fully equipped to address these challenges, to uphold the founding principles of the Helsinki Final Act, promote common values, and lend the PA’s contribution to resolving conflicts,” the President said.
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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.