Azerbaijan, Baku, 2 October /corr. Trend R.Novruzov / The USA supports territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Georgia, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, John D. Negroponte, said to press conference in Baku.
"The United States, as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, makes big efforts to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The conflict settlement may be achieved through talks," he said.
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.
In addition, Negroponte condemned the actions of Russia with regards to South Ossetia conflict. "We and the European friends rendered big assistance to Georgia. We hope that taking into consideration the cost, which paid for its actions, Russia will twice think before again acting in this way," the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State said.
According to Negroponte, during the dialogue, the USA told Russia that its actions with regards to Georgia do not provide an opportunity to ensure peace and are not suitable for the 21st century.
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