Azerbaijan, Baku, October 4 / Trend /
Azerbaijan agrees with Iran's proposal to mediate in the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. But the delay in this matter is connected with Armenia's disagreement, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iran Javanshir Akhundov said in an interview with Mehr.
Iran can play an important role in solving many regional issues, including the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, the diplomat said.
Iran has already voiced the initiative to organize a meeting of Azerbaijani, Armenian and Iranian foreign ministers. However, official Yerevan refused from this proposal, 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 seven 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 negotiations to resolve the dispute.
Armenia has failed to implement U.N. Security Council resolutions stipulating the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.