Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 17
By Seba Aghayeva - Trend:
The regular provocative military drills carried out by Armenia on the occupied Azerbaijani territories serve to preserve the existing status quo and the escalation of tensions in the region, the head of the press service of the ministry of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev told Trend Apr.17.
He made the remarks commenting on the military drills carried out by Armenia on the occupied territories.
He said that military drills conducted by Armenia on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan are another demonstration of use of force threat.
As previously reported by Armenian media, the separatist regime in Nagorno Karabakh uses live ammunition during the conducted tactical drills.
The head of the press service went on to add that Armenia's intention to hold illegal "parliamentary election" in the separatist regime, which the country created on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, is a part of the military and political provocations of Armenia.
Instead of starting the work on a big peace agreement, which is supported by the OSCE Minsk Group, Armenia undermines the negotiation process through political and military provocations, he said.
In order to change unacceptable and inconsistent status quo, based on occupation and aggression, to resolve the conflict and restore peace and stability in the region, in the first place Armenian occupying forces must withdraw from Azerbaijani territories, said the head of the press service.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
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