Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 9 / Trend, E. Mehdiyev /
The Armenian media has recently exaggerated facts surrounding a proposal from the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II expressed to Chairman of the Caucasian Muslim's Office Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade. Karekin II calling for a meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian religious leaders on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, the Caucasian Muslims Office said today.
The Caucasian Muslim's Office said that during Sheikhulislam Pashazade's visit to Georgia, the bishop of the Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Church Vazgen Mirzakhanian voiced the proposal of His Holiness Karekin II. According to the Armenian press, the matter rested in holding a meeting on the frontlines or in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The office firmly denies these rumors and considers this another Armenian provocation.
A meeting, if it happens, can take place only on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border.
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.