Azernews.Az

By Aynur Karimova

Azerbaijan has expressed regret that UN's four resolutions on the liberation of the country’s occupied territories are still being ignored by Armenia.

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at a joint conference entitled "Azerbaijan and Sustainable Development Goals" in Baku on October 23 that Azerbaijan is committed to continue the peace talks.

"The status quo is unacceptable and poses a danger to the entire region," he noted.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. Since the war, the Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions.

The top diplomat reminded that in response to the occupation of Azerbaijan’s lands by Armenia, numerous resolutions were adopted by the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly condemning the occupation and reaffirming respect for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the inviolability of its internationally recognized borders.

“The fact that those resolutions remain on paper does not serve the credibility of the UN,” he added. “The Government of Armenia must realize that the military occupation of a territory of another State does not represent a solution and its reliance on the status quo is wrong, counter-productive and dangerous."

Armenia continues the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal of armed forces. Peace talks brokered by mediators from Russia, France and the U.S. have produced no results so far.

In mid-October, Azerbaijan’s Permanent Mission to the UN outlined a letter to the UN Secretary General and urged the UN Security Council to take decisive measures toward putting an end to the impunity given to Armenia as it continues to occupy Azerbaijani territories.

Mammadyarov went on to add that on a human dimension, Azerbaijan continues to promote tolerance, multiculturalism and understanding among peoples.

“Over the past seventy years, the United Nations has decisively established itself as the universal organization working for the noble cause of maintaining international peace and security,” he said.

Mammadyarov said that "to our deepest regret, the world continues to face deterioration of the international security situation and increased human suffering, which requires huge resources from the United Nations."

“Azerbaijan has contributed with its military personnel to the UN-mandated peacekeeping operations in various parts of the world to advance efforts for the maintenance of international peace and security,” he said. "Azerbaijan takes an active part in international organizations and helps to strengthen the relations between the UN and the OIC."

--

Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz