Armenia protracts settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, says minister
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
Armenia protracts the negotiation process in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and thus negatively impacts on the regional situation, said a top Azerbaijani military officer.
Defense Minister, Zakir Hasanov highlighted Armenia's continuing destructive approach towards the conflict's settlement at a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Tsuguo Takahashi on March 3.
Speaking about the political situation in the region, Hasanov gave a detailed review of Armenia's occupation policy in view of Azerbaijan.
Hasanov stated that the continuation of Armenia's occupation policy directly protracts the peaceful resolution of the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
"And it in turn, negatively affects the region," Hasanov added.
Exchange of views on mutual interests in developing relations between Azerbaijan and Japan in several spheres was also at the forefront of the talks.
Japan has repeatedly voiced its support of Azerbaijan' sovereignty and territorial integrity. In his interview last December, Takahashi said Japan supported the peaceful settlement of the problem in Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region pursuant to the resolutions, agreements and international law, as well as the mediation efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group.
Expressing his views, the diplomat noted that Azerbaijan continues to face difficult issues, including the issue of refugees and IDPs scattered throughout the country's territory as a result of the conflict's stagnation.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict hinders the progress not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the whole of the South Caucasian region, believes Takahashi.
Back in 1992, following a violent and bloody conflict, Armenia occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts plunging the South Caucasus region into a protracted conflict.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts, which historically have belonged to Azerbaijan and have been recognized as belonging to Azerbaijan by the international community, remain under Armenian occupation for over two decades.
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
Not only has Armenia refused to comply with several UN Security Council resolutions, but it has systematically violated upon Azerbaijan's territorial sovereignty by targeting its civilians and allowing its armed forces to target villages in wake of periodical sabotage operations.
Although Baku has tried time and time again to broker a peaceful resolution to the conflict in view of preserving regional stability and promoting tolerance, Armenia has ignored all calls for restraint.
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