NATO encourages Azerbaijan, Armenia to engage in substantial talks on Karabakh
By Rashid Shirinov
NATO encourages both Azerbaijan and Armenia to engage in substantial negotiations and to work toward a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, James Appathurai, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, told APA on June 30.
“Last year’s surge of violence, along with regular cease-fire violations along the line of contact, shows how important it is for all sides to withdraw the heavy weapons, exercise restraint, adhere strictly to the ceasefire, and reduce tensions,” he said, stressing that this is the only way toward a peaceful settlement as there is no military solution to this conflict.
Appathurai added that NATO is not directly involved in the negotiations to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict – they are conducted in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims to Azerbaijan. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions.
The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan, but they have not been enforced to this day.
During the interview, Appathurai also touched upon the relations between NATO and Azerbaijan. “Azerbaijan is a valued and committed NATO partner, and cooperation between us is in our mutual interest,” he said.
Appathurai noted that Azerbaijan participates in NATO exercises, like NATO’s annual disaster response exercise, which will take place in Bosnia-Herzegovina later this year.
Appathurai further reminded that Azerbaijan contributes to NATO mission in Afghanistan.
“We highly value the participation of Azerbaijani troops in NATO-led Resolute Support Mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces,” he said. “Azerbaijan is an active and steady contributor to NATO-led operations.”
Appathurai noted that Azerbaijan’s current contribution to Afghanistan includes 94 personnel and comprises political, military, logistical support, transit and non-military engagements such as training, humanitarian demining, and a financial contribution to the Afghan National Trust Fund with more than $1,6 million.
The peacekeeping contingent of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces has been serving under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since November 20, 2002.
Azerbaijan also allowed the NATO planes carrying non-combat loads for a mission in Afghanistan to fly through Azerbaijan's airspace and to use the country's airports. About 40 percent of all cargo destined for the NATO mission in Afghanistan pass through Baku.
---
Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz