Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 10 / Trend /
Baku remains committed to resolve the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan through negotiations, despite the fact that mediation efforts over 20 years were not always consistent and as yet not produced any results, the Azerbaijani Permanent Representative to the UN Agshin Mehdiyev said, ITAR-TASS reported.
He was speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council in connection with the briefing of the OSCE Chairman, deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland Eamon Gilmore.
Mr Mehdiyev said that Baku takes into account that the formula for a settlement is on the basis of the on-going political process. It is based on the termination of the illegal occupation of our territories, restoring sovereignty and Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, refugees can return home and ensuring a peaceful coexistence of Azerbaijanis and Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region within Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani ambassador strongly opposed the lack of consent on political issues to be used as a reason to disrespect and disregard international law, particularly international humanitarian law and the international law on human rights. Thus, the on-going continuing illegal activity in the Azerbaijani occupied territories, especially the one which aims to change the demographic, social and cultural character, certainly serves to further perpetuate the current status quo of occupation.
Azerbaijani Permanent Representative to the UN expressed hope that the OSCE chairman will insist on the need to immediately and unconditionally stop all the actions that create serious obstacles to the prospects of the conflict settlement on the basis of international law.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent 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 peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
