Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25
Trend:
Armenia continues occupation of 20 percent of the Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territories, thus undermining the regional security and stability, as well as impedes full-fledged regional cooperation, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said.
He was speaking in New York at the Informal Meeting of Council of Ministers of the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) Member States, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said in a message Sept. 25.
"Armenia went even further in its aggression policy now trying to associate other countries with the occupation through attracting businesses, trade and investments in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan," Mammadyarov added.
“It is very important for our cooperation that all countries are aware of such intentions of Armenia and reject any type of social, economic and cultural involvement in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan,” he said. “I call on all ECO Member States to prevent any attempts to engage in trade, economic and investment activities in or with the regime in occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan.”
“Withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and ensuring the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes not only will contribute to peace and security in the South Caucasus, but also will enhance full-fledged intra-regional cooperation,” he noted.
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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.