Azerbaijan, Baku, July 5 / Trend T. Hajiyev /
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is negatively impacting sanatorium development in Azerbaijan.
"The military situation in the country since 1989, severe economic problems, and tough market conditions have affected resorts and spas in our country," Confederation of Trade Unions Chairman, MP Sattar Mehbaliyev said in an interview with the ruling New Azerbaijan Party's official website. The Shusha and Istisu motels remain in the territories occupied by Armenia and the Resort motel has received damages estimated at over 2.2 billion manat.
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 seven surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the United States - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the occupied territories.
Most tourist areas have been used to accommodate refugees and IDPs.
"8,500 refugees and IDPs live in 70 percent of the resorts. Utility costs, health expenditures and the other costs rendered to the citizens are mostly paid using trade union funds," he said.