Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr S. Ilhamgizi / The status of Nagorno-Karabakh can be discussed only after the return of 250,000 Azerbaijanis evicted from Armenia, according to the report of the Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO).
KLO believes that Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh should be provided with the status corresponding to the status which will be given to Azerbaijanis evicted from their homes. That is the only favourable steps which can be followed by international organizations. Otherwise, Azerbaijan will have to liberate its land by military means. Azerbaijan's administration should make a correct decision regarding the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group and reject negotiations on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh," the report stated.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 due to the territorial claims of Armenia to Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven nearby regions. Since 1992 to the present time, these territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement which put an end to active hostilities. The Co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) are holding peaceful negotiations.