Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 18 / Trend /
So, 2009 was quite intensive and active process to resolve the Karabakh conflict, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in an interview with Liberty radio station, Tert.am reported. According to Nalbandian, it is important to preserve the last year's positive dynamics. It is meaningless to accelerate the process artificially.
The minister said that the progress was observed in the rapprochement of Azerbaijani and Armenian sides. But it is not enough to speak about cardinal changes. "If we have an opportunity to maintain this positive dynamics, which was in 2009, it will be possible to bring closer the perspective of the conflict's settlement," he said.
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.