Baku, Azerbaijan, May 30
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
NATO encourages the sides of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to continue path to a negotiated solution, a NATO official told Trend May 30.
“The unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a matter of concern. It is clear that there is no military solution to this conflict,” said the official.
“NATO has no direct role. We continue to support the work of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. We also encourage both parties to continue the path to a negotiated solution and avoid any new escalation.”
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.
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