Azerbaijan, Baku, July 9 / Trend , A.Huseynbala /
It is time to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said deputy chairman of ruling party of Azerbaijan.
"The intensification of the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement is a positive fact. Meetings are held in order to achieve a result. And the result, as we understand, is that Azerbaijani territories should be freed from the occupation and the refugees should return to their native land," said deputy chairman of ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), Ali Ahmedov.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
According to Ahmedov, if the negotiation process is accelerated and meetings at the presidential level are held often, it is worthy to expect results from the negotiations. "We hope that at the next meeting, concrete steps will be taken for a positive solution to the conflict. Ensuring stability in the South Caucasus depends on a fair solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as it is the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Another solution to the conflict does not exist," said deputy chairman.
According to Ahmedov, work of Russia, co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group to resolve the conflict even more intensified. "Russia has an opportunity to influence the resolution of the conflict, and the growth of initiatives of this State is a cause for optimism," said Ahmedov.
"If the mutual visits of intellectuals of Azerbaijan and Armenia help resolve the conflict, it is necessary to encourage them," Ahmedov said, touching upon the visits of Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals.
The NAP was founded by Heydar Aliyev in 1992. The present chair of the party is Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who has held the position for 14 years.
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