Urmia, Iran, Nov. 25
By Temkin Jafarov - Trend:
Iran does not support the aggressive regime and wants the Nagorno-Karabakh to be liberated from the Armenian occupation, the governor of the Iranian province of West Azerbaijan Ghorbanali Saadat told the Azerbaijani reporters in Iran.
He said the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a problem of not only Azerbaijan, but also Iran.
"We are concerned over the existing situation. Azerbaijan and Armenia should resolve the problem," Saadat said. "Unfortunately, this process is being delayed."
He further said the Iranian government stands ready to provide every support in resolving the conflict.
"The peoples in the neighboring countries should maintain friendly relations," Saadat added.
He also said that the Jews, Kurds, Armenians and Assyrians live side by side on the territory of the Iranian province of West Azerbaijan.
"These peoples live side by side without any particular problems," Saadat said, adding "but their countries pursue their policies."
The Nagorno-Karabakh 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 US are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
Edited by SI