Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend S.Ilhamgizi / The Deputy Chairman of ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), MP Ali Ahmadov, said commenting on the party's participation in Karabakh Forum organized by the opposition that the ruling party prefers to discuss the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh with international organizations that may assist in resolving the problem, but not to discuss it within the country. He stressed that responsible State bodies are functioning in the direction of the conflict settlement. To resolve the conflict, Azerbaijan's President, Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, are continuing peaceful talks with Armenia.
According to Ahmadov, the basic participation of the Azerbaijani community and political parties in this process may be their support to the works and talks implemented by the State Head and their unity. "Of course, the position of Azerbaijani society in Nagorno-Karabakh issue is unanimous. Everybody wishes to see a solution to this conflict and restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Therefore, we consider that we should present the conflict to discussions outside the country. We should try to inform the international community of Azerbaijan's goal and position," Ahmadov said.
Ahmadov said that NAP's absence from the events dedicated to the Karabakh issue does not mean that their part is indifferent towards the complicated situation. "On the contrary, NAP tries to assist in resolving the conflict in a more beneficial manner," Ahmadov said.
According to him, NAP made a prompt reaction to the statement of Russian Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Yuri Merzlyakov, who changed his position afterwards.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries started in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani lands including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. From 1992 to the present time, these territories have been under Armenian occupation. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) are holding peaceful negotiations.