Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend S.Agayeva / It is very important to find a resolution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, which would satisfy both sides and guarantee peace in the region, Sergey Stanishev, the Bulgarian Prime Minister, said in talks with journalists in Baku on 13 November. He was commenting on Bulgaria's position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since 1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time active hostilities ended. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.
"The current state of 'lingering conflicts' damages both Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the whole region," Stanishev said.
The OSCE Minsk Group has been involved in the conflict settlement for many years and during its chairmanship at the OSCE in 2004 Bulgaria seriously contributed in bilateral negotiations.
" Bulgaria, as an EU member-country, and as a country related to the region, wishes the region well and stability and considers that it is necessary to find a durable solution to the conflict," he said.
