Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 11 / Trend K. Zarbaliyeva /
Armenia's aggressive policy is a major source of tension in the region, Safar Abiyev, Defense Minister, said at a meeting with Iranian counterpart Ahmad Vahidi, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.
"Azerbaijan stands for the peace and tranquility in the region. Unfortunately, we have not achieved it yet. The main obstacle to security in the region is the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan," Abiyev said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding negotiations to resolve the dispute.
Armenia has failed to implement U.N. Security Council resolutions stipulating the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.
Abiyev noted during the face-to-face meeting and an enlarged meeting that the main condition to develop cooperation in the region is stability.
The issues of military cooperation between the two countries were discussed at the meeting. Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iran Javanshir Akhundov attended the discussions.