France, Strasbourg, Jan. 23 / Trend A. Maharramli /
PACE chairman Jean-Claude Mignon has met with heads of the Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations to PACE within the organization.
The importance of holding the negotiations for peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was stressed. But no statements were made in connection with the details of the meeting.
The trilateral meetings, based on parliamentary diplomacy and initiated by PACE chairman, are being organized regularly. There is a consistency not to give any information about the details of meetings held between the delegations of the countries.
The hope was also expressed that parliamentary diplomacy can give some results before PACE April session, to be held in connection with this issue.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent 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 peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.