Azerbaijan, Baku, 20 June / Trend corr I. Alizade/ A range of socio-political organizations in Azerbaijan demand to suspend peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia on peace settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "Pro-Armenian position of the OSCE Minsk Group's co-chairs mediating between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as international organizations' pressure on Azerbaijan impede the negotiations," says declaration which was passed after meeting of the socio-political organizations which was held on 20 June through the mediation of the Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO).
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and Nagorno-Karabakh's seven surrounding regions. 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, but fruitless negotiations.
For peaceful settlement of the Nagorb-Karabakh conflict in 1992 about 10 OSCE countries established Minsk Group. Since 1997, Minks Group includes co-chairmen from three countries - USA, Russia and France.
Declaration says the negotiations being held through the mediation of the Minsk Group co-chairs are intended to make Azerbaijan to strike a compromising peace.
KLO Chairman Akif Nagi thinks the period of negotiations must be determined, after expiration of which Azerbaijan must commence liberation of its territory in a military way.
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