Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 15 / Trend M. Aliyev
Azerbaijani independent politicians call on Russia to determine a position on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Russia should complete this issue at last and clearly express its position to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, political scientist Rasim Agayev said.
Russia and the West differentiate the issues of settlement the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia. In this regard, Azerbaijan should address with new initiatives, the politician said on Friday at a round table devoted to this issue.
The planned visit of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Moscow (January 18) is another attempt to enlist the support of Russia. Now, the Armenian political elite is seriously concerned about Moscow's position, political scientist Zardusht Alizadeh said.
Political scientist Fikret Sadikhov thinks that the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Moscow and visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Yerevan testify that the process of Turkish-Armenian rapprochement was launched. Now it is necessary to determine the position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
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.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. General Assembly's resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.