Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept.28 / Trend /
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov discussed the stalemate in peace talks due to Armenia's refusal to withdraw its occupying forces from Azerbaijan's occupied territories during his meeting with co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's website reported.
The meeting was held on Sept.27 on the sidelines of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Mammadyarov also stressed that Armenia uses all excuses and means in order to maintain the status quo in the region.
The Minsk Group co-chairs reaffirmed the statements of their Presidents on the unacceptability of the current status quo.
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov reiterated that regional peace, security and stability will be threatened as long as the Armenian armed forces stay in Azerbaijan's 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 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.