Azerbaijan, Baku, April 17 / Trend /
The U.S. is interested in continuing its cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of democracy, U.S Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Thomas Melia said at a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku on Wednesday.
During the meeting they exchanged views about regional affairs, democracy, human rights and freedom of expression and discussed options to advance bilateral cooperation in these spheres.
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov spoke about the reforms and achievements in spheres such as democracy, human rights and freedom of expression.
Speaking about the current state of peace talks aimed at the resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Minister Mammadyarov stressed that Yerevan evades the talks by using various excuses.
The minister also emphasised that the OSCE Minsk Group should step up its efforts to arrive at a solution for the conflict and added that the prolongation of its settlement poses the biggest threat to regional stability.
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov also called on the international community to show an impartial, fair and objective approach to the conflict settlement process.
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.