Azerbaiajn, Baku / Тrend corr K. Ramazanova / International law requires that Nagorno-Karabakh's status be defined and Azerbaijan is ready to provide for the highest status, which is autonomy within the framework territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, said to Italian journalists in Azerbaijan on 20 September.
"The point is our national minorities have not more than their self-determination," the Minister said.
The day before, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, Araz Azimov once more confirmed the position of official Baku, which wishes peaceful settlement of the conflict. Azerbaijan is ready to support the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group's mediators and intends to continue the settlement within the framework of the Prague Process, he said. "It would be incorrect to lose the results achieved in the Prague Process," Azimov said.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Since 1992, Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijan, including Nagorno-Karabakh and its seven surrounding districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.