Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 13
Trend:
Armenia continues its aggressive policy against Azerbaijan, Zakir Hasanov, the Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel-General said at a meeting with Charles Kupchan, the Senior Director for European Affairs at the US National Security Council, the Azerbaijani defense ministry said Jan. 13.
"Yerevan is deliberately delaying the negotiations and this adversely affects the situation in the region," Hasanov said.
The sides discussed the military-political situation in the region, the successful activity of Azerbaijani servicemen in the peacekeeping mission, military education, training and exchange of experience, as well as the issues of mutual interest.
"As for the current bilateral military cooperation, the minister also highlighted the problems of Azerbaijan," the minister said.
US ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta attended the meeting.
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 US are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.