Azerbaijan, Baku, March 5 / Trend , A. Huseynbala /
Azerbaijan state attaches great importance to the protection of human rights. However, some problems, especially the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, have created serious obstacles for economic development of our country. As a result of the conflict the rights over a million people has been roughly violated, member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, vice president of the organization Samad Seyidov said at a meeting with of Europe (CE) Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg.
"The conflict can be resolved only within the norms and principles of international law," Seyidov 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.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.
Thomas Hammarberg spoke about the meetings held within his visit to Azerbaijan in Baku and Nakhchivan. During these meetings, extensive and fruitful exchange of views on human rights, freedom of the press, law enforcement agencies' activity, civil society development and other issues were held, he said.
According to Hammarberg, CE recognized human rights violations as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and intends to strengthen the works in connection with this problem.