Azerbaijan, Baku, May 29 / Trend, S.Aliyev /
Preservation of the status quo in the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not acceptable, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said. He made this statement at the opening of the Azerbaijan-US Convention "Vision for the Future", which is underway in Baku.
He said the United States is actively involved in the process of settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Unfortunately, we do not have any results yet. Still our lands are under occupation. But we hope that joint efforts of international community, in particular those of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, will put an end to the occupation and will allow our people to return to their homeland," President Aliyev said.
He said that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not only a reflection of a brutal violation of international law and justice, it is also one of the main threats to regional stability and security.
"I can tell you that even before the Soviet Union collapsed, in the end of 1980's, Armenian separatists supported by Armenia, started these groundless claims against Azerbaijan, and when Azerbaijan became independent in 1991, we had very difficult times, it was an economic chaos, political chaos, decline of economy and industry, and at the same time Armenian aggression. It ended in occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory," he said.
OSCE sent fact-finding missions to the occupied territories twice, and the report says very clear that all the infrastructure, all our historical monuments have been destroyed by Armenian occupational army, President Aliyev emphasized.
According to President Aliyev, Azerbaijani people also suffered from the Khojaly genocide in 1992.
"Innocent people, women, children were killed by Armenian army. And today, four countries in the world already recognize the Khojaly massacre as genocide. And also more U.S. states did the same," he said.
The soonest resolution to the conflict will first restore justice and international law, because the UN Security Council adopted four resolutions demanding unconditional and immediate withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories, President Aliyev said.
"Resolution of the conflict will create predictable future for the region, will enhance regional security, regional stability, and the Southern Caucasus will be fully integrated," he said.
The positive example of Azerbaijan's development is a real indicator that when you have stability, predictable policy and clear vision for the future, and efforts to enhance cooperation - you achieve success, President Aliyev believes.