Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 7
By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:
Unresolved conflicts in the OSCE region, including the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, undermine security in the region, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said.
Linkevicius made the remarks at the 24th OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna Dec. 6.
"Unresolved conflicts in Moldova, Ukraine and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict impede the strengthening of security in the region," 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.