Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 25
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:
The OSCE is concerned over the escalation of tensions on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, OSCE PA Vice-President George Tsereteli told reporters in Baku Jan. 25.
He said that the only way to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is through peace negotiations under the OSCE Minsk Group mandate.
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.
Issues of cooperation between the parties will be discussed during the visit of the OSCE PA vice-president to Azerbaijan, which began on Jan. 25.