Tbilisi, Georgia, August 4
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
The Georgian authorities believe that Azerbaijan and Armenia will be able to find common ground and come to an agreement on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili told the media on August 4.
He was commenting on the recent situation on the contact line between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.
"The Georgian authorities are concerned about this situation," the president said. "I want to join calls to de-escalate the situation in the region. This is of great importance for both Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as for the whole region. We all need stability in the region. A dialogue between the two countries must be continued. I am sure that they will find a common language."
While commenting on the situation, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said that Azerbaijan and Armenia will soon reach an agreement and there will be peace in the region.
"We witness the situation in neighboring countries with great attention and concern," the prime minister said. "I hope and believe that they will soon reach an agreement and there will be peace in the region."
Armenian armed forces launched a diversion on the night of July 31-August 1, when reconnaissance and sabotage groups tried to cross the contact line of the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops through the territories of Aghdam and Terter regions.
Armenia's reconnaissance and sabotage group attacked the positions of Azerbaijani armed forces in the direction of Azerbaijan's Aghdam and Agdere regions on the night of August 1-2. Azerbaijan managed to locate the group and the sabotage attempt was prevented.
During the last four days, Azerbaijani positions have been constantly under attack, and 13 servicemen have been killed, several more were wounded. The Armenian side suffered more losses while trying to hide this fact from the public.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries 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.