Azerbaijan, Baku, May 11 / Trend A. Huseynbala /
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a serious threat for security in both the region and Europe, speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament said.
"The occupation of our lands by Armenia poses a serious obstacle in the development of Azerbaijan", speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Oktay Asadov said at a meeting with a group headed by Azerbaijan-Switzerland friendship group head of the Swiss Parliament Christine Egerszegi-Obrist.
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 resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.
Asadov said that the German Bundestag and the Parliament of Italy confirmed that Armenia is an aggressor.
"At the moment, the British Parliament, is preparing a similar document. We thank Switzerland for its support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in resolving of the conflict. I would like the Swiss parliament to adopt a document too," speaker said.
He said that friendly relations between Switzerland and Azerbaijan are constantly developing and the leaders of both countries play an important role in it. "The negotiations conducted by the presidents and chairmen of the parliaments, the agreements concluded between the two countries give results. We hope that your current visit will also give impetus to the development of relations between our countries," Asadov said.
Christine Egerszegi-Obrist said that Switzerland is concerned over stalling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.
"This conflict is a threat to security not only in the region, but also in Europe. The problem must be resolved fairly and as quickly as possible", she said.
Today, members of Azerbaijan-Switzerland Friendship Group have launched the visit to Baku.