Azerbaijan, Baku, 6 January /corr. TrendNews I.Alizade / The politicians of Azerbaijan consider that the possibilities of mitigating Baku's position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have exhausted. "Azerbaijan is prepared to provide the highest status of self-determination to the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh. And this status is equal to independence and the largest compromise to the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh," former foreign policy adviser of Azerbaijan President, independent politician Vafa Guluzade told Trend on 6 June.
Azerbaijan President's special representative for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov, said that if Armenia recognizes Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, Baku may mitigate its position on Nagorno-Karabakh.
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.
"Armenia's recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity does not mean settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and Armenia's making such a step in the near future is unreal. Because Russia does not provide possibility to settle Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the politician added.
Independent politician Rasim Musabeyov considers that if Armenia recognizes territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Baku may begin talks with the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh.
"If Armenia recognizes territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, it should withdraw its troops from the occupied territories, and it may mitigate Baku's position on Nagorno-Karabakh. Because Azerbaijan states that its territory has been occupied by the Armenians and refuses to hold talks with the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh," Musabeyov added.
According to him, Armenia's recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity in the near future is unreal.
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