Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug.6 / Trend J.Babayeva /
Head of international relations department of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, Novruz Mammadov, considers that the world's leading countries want stability on the South Caucasus due to their own interests.
"Unfortunately, maybe the conflicts in the region appeared due to the interests of these countries. The South Caucasus is on the focus of attention of the world's leading countries due to its geo-strategic position. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's statement on Russia's support to solution of the conflicts on the South Caucasus was expected," Mammadov told official website of ruling New Azerbaijan Party.
During his visit to Turkey Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stated the serious and active work for the resolution of the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Serious work is being done to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and there is serious progress in this direction. Moscow is eager to see rapid resolution of the conflict," Putin added.
Putin said his country is unwilling to see any conflict in the Caucasus. "Conflict in the Caucasus casts shadow on our relations with the countries of the region," he stressed.
The prime minister said that Russia's position on the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remained unchanged. "We cannot do the job of conflict sides, but only assist in the solution to the dispute," he added.
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.
Mammadov appraised Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's statement on solution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which he made during his visit to Turkey. "This fact showed that Russia is supporter of solutions," Mammadov added.
The sides have special interests on the solution of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan tries to harmonize these interests and solve this conflict in the interests of statehood, Mammadov said.
Major countries are also interested in solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. So, influence on Armenia by these countries increases.
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