Azerbaijani Defense Ministry: Armenia brings new war closer

Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug.14 /Trend/

Armenia, which does not want to return the territory of Azerbaijan, which has been under the occupation for more than 20 years, brings a new war closer, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev said at the meeting with Commander of the National Guard of Oklahoma (USA) Miles Deering, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

The Defense Minister of Azerbaijan informed Deering about the military-political situation in the region, noting the continuing aggressive policy of Armenia.

The activities of the OSCE Minsk Group have not led to concrete results yet, Abiyev said. In such a situation, the minister added, Azerbaijan has no other ways except to strengthen its army and liberate the occupied territories.

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 and the surrounding regions.