Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend S.Ilhamgizi / The International Karabakh Forum of the World Azerbaijanis condemns the efforts of the separatist regime to hold 'presidential elections' in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan on 19 July. The Chairman of the Forum, Hasan Hasanov, said that the meeting on 17 July focused on this issue.
The Forum participants consider that the recent statements of the Armenian President, Robert Kocharyan, on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement are contrary to optimistic statements of the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. Thus, the probability to release occupied lands through peaceful talks is increasing and therefore, the Government of Azerbaijan should unite people and take concrete measures to release occupied territories.
International Karabakh Forum came to a conclusion that the efforts of the Armenian separatists to hold 'presidential elections' in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan once again testify insincere position of Armenia.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries appeared 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. Since 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.