Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 11
By Anahanum Khidayatova - Trend:
The development of Azerbaijan-Russia relations can contribute to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, taking into account Russia's good relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia, diplomat Yaakov Kedmi, former head of Israel's NATIV intelligence service, told Trend Nov. 11.
Kedmi was commenting on Russian President Vladimir Putin's order on signing an agreement between Russia and Armenia to establish a joint regional air defense system in the Caucasus region of collective security.
"There is nothing unusual that Russia and Armenia are coordinating their actions in the air defense," he said. "Other member-states of the Customs Union or the Eurasian Union also conclude such agreements. However, the agreement will complicate the actions of any air force in the airspace over Armenia."
The expert also said that Azerbaijan must continue strengthening the relations with Russia.
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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