Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 25
By Elmira Tariverdiyeva – Trend:
The OSCE Minsk Group (MG) will continue to contribute to the negotiations aimed at achieving a lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on principles of international law, UN Charter and Helsinki Final Act, said Richard Hoagland, US interim co-chair of the OSCE MG.
“The Minsk Group co-chairs and I adhere to the statement made on Jan. 9. We will continue our mediatory efforts in the peaceful settlement as long as the sides believe that our efforts benefit,” Hoagland said in response to a question from the Armenian news website News.am.
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.