Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 8
By Elmira Tariverdiyeva – Trend:
Giving a high level of autonomy to Nagorno-Karabakh within the borders of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity can help resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Armenian human rights activist Vage Avetyan told Trend in Baku.
He made the remarks Nov. 8 at the conference titled “The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: main obstacles and prospects of the settlement. View from Armenia and Azerbaijan”.
The human rights activist said he came to Baku on his own initiative.
Avetyan believes in the effectiveness of his activities as a human rights defender in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict's resolution.
“I wouldn't have wasted a second of my time if I wasn't sure of the result,” he said.
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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.