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US State Department: Peaceful Settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict in Interest of Azerbaijan (video)

Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Materials 5 November 2007 21:01 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr K. Ramazanova / Settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh through negotiations is in the interest of Azerbaijan, the US Assistant Secretary of State on European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried said at a press conference on 5 November.

"Negotiations are the best way for Azerbaijan, also in terms of returning of refugees and internally displaced persons to their lands," he said.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since 1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh region 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.

According to Fried, the sides have already achieved some progress in the negotiations, but it is not the time to sign an agreement.

"The United States will closely cooperate with Azerbaijani and Armenian Governments within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group in order to achieve peace," Fried said.

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