Azerbaijan, Baku, October 16 / Trend T. Konyayeva /
Azerbaijani independent politicians forecast releasing of five regions of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia soon.
"I think that there is certain agreement between Ankara and Yerevan to return five Azerbaijani regions occupied by Armenia," Azerbaijani independent politician, Rasim Aqayev, said at a meeting of politicians' discussion club 'End of football diplomacy. What is the next action?' on October 16.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7 districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Aqayev said that there is much vagueness in Armenia-Turkey relations. Tractability and readiness of Armenian side to negotiate and obvious coordination on this issue between the USA and Russia are surprising. Politician said that perhaps, there is the agreement on return of five Azerbaijani regions occupied by Armenia.
Signing of Turkey-Armenia protocols to resume diplomatic relations is not initiative of only these two countries, other Azerbaijani politician, Fikret Sadikhov, said. He said that Armenian and Turkish parliaments will ratify these protocols. Five occupied regions of Azerbaijan are likely to be released, he said.
Armenia and Turkey signed the protocols to resume diplomatic relations, broken in 1993, in Zurich on October 10.
Five occupied regions of Azerbaijan will be released soon. Refugees will return to their lands. Communications will be restored. Kalbajar and Lachin will be returned in five years, independent politician, Zardusht Alizade, said.