Urgency for Karabakh conflict solution emphasized in Baku summit
By Rashid Shirinov
The urgency for the resolution of the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been emphasized once more at the Baku summit of the presidents of Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran on August 8.
During the meeting President Aliyev said that status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is unacceptable and the conflict should be resolved in line with international law and within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
President Aliyev noted that the the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, remained unsolved for more than 20 years, stressing that Iran and Russia respect the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, and both countries have repeatedly stated the resolution of the conflict within the framework of international law.
He pointed out that Iran and Russia respect Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty, and both countries have repeatedly emphasized the necessity of resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in line with international law.
“International community and organizations recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and support the fair settlement of the conflict in line with international law,” the president noted, adding that the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, the OSCE, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other international organizations unequivocally support Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
“First of all, Azerbaijani lands should be liberated for the settlement of the conflict,” added President Aliyev. “Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity has been violated for many years and 20 percent of our lands are under occupation. Over a million Azerbaijanis are suffering from this occupation.”
“The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on the conflict. Those resolutions demand the unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied lands. Regrettably, these resolutions have not been fulfilled for over 20 years,” said President Aliyev.
The issue was in spotlight during the meeting of President Ilham Aliyev with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, as well.
President Aliyev stressed Russia’s role in the process of settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: “We value this role. Your personal participation plays an important role in making progress in the settlement process.”
Aliyev recalled the Saint-Petersburg meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in June with the mediation of Vladimir Putin, expressing his gratitude for Russian president’s active participation in the negotiations on the conflict.
Vladimir Putin, for his part, said that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue remains acute for both conflicting countries. “We will do everything possible so that Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a compromise acceptable for both sides, so that the two countries’ peoples win from this, and so that both countries feel that they have resolved this difficult issue in the interests of current and future generations,” he noted.
The conflict was on agenda of talks between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran, as well. Elmar Mammadyarov said that the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict hinders the development of the region.
“Concerns over unresolved conflicts and the fact that they hinder the region’s development were noted in the declaration signed on the results of the summit of the Azerbaijani, Russian and Iranian presidents,” the minister noted.
Mammadyarov stressed that the conflict must be resolved in accordance with international principles and norms.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
---
Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz