Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr S. Ilhamgizi / GUAM countries should establish cooperation in the military field and form a peacekeeping contingent, the Chairman of the Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO), Akif Nagi, said.
Despite discussions of the initiative on establishing a single peacekeeping force of GUAM countries, the decision has not yet been made.
"There are separatist forces within the territories of GUAM countries. It is high time to attract GUAM peacekeeping forces for the settlement of these conflicts. Other international organizations place military contingents in the territories of conflict and use them in their own interests. GUAM peacekeeping forces will be more reliable," the Chairman said.
According to Nagi, peacekeeping forces should be located only on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border after liberation of the occupied territories.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries broke out in 1988 due to Armenian claims to Azerbaijani territory. Since 1992, 20% of Azerbaijani territories (Nagorno-Karabakh and seven neighbouring regions), have been occupied by the Armenian Armed Forces. In May 1994, the two sides signed a ceasefire. Peace talks are still being held under the auspices of the Minsk Group of the OSCE chaired by Russia, France, and the United States, but in vain.
KLO was established in Baku in 2000 for organizing the social fight for liberating Karabakh. The social organization, including representatives of the intelligentsia and youth, refugees and displaced persons, former military men and officers in reserve, unites some 10,000 people. KLO has its representative offices in the regions of the country and abroad.