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Non-Aligned Movement: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved within Azerbaijan's territorial integrity

19 September 2016 11:22 (UTC+04:00)
Non-Aligned Movement: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved within Azerbaijan's territorial integrity

By Rashid Shirinov

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) called for resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and internationally recognized borders.

The corresponding item was included in the final document of the NAM summit, which has been recently completed in Isla de Margarita, Venezuela.

The heads of states and governments of the Movement's member-countries expressed regret that despite UN Security Council's resolutions, the conflict is still unresolved, and continues to constitute a threat to international and regional peace and security.

The summit reaffirmed the importance of the non-use of force principle, which is reflected in the UN Charter, called on the parties to settle the conflict within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

In the outcome document of the summit, heads of states and governments also supported the proposal of Azerbaijan to hold the next NAM summit in 2019 in Baku.

Azerbaijani delegation at the summit was led by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov. He held meetings with Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Ramtane Lamamra, Retno Marsudi, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Riad Al-Malki, Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Algeria, Indonesia, Republic of South Africa and Palestine respectively on the margins of the NAM summit.

At the meetings, the development of bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and humanitarian fields, as well as the issues on the agenda of the NAM and the 71th Session of UN General Assembly were discussed. The Ministers also noted the importance of enhancing relations between the countries within international organizations.

Minister Elmar Mammadyarov briefed his counterparts on the current negotiation process over the settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and highly appreciated consistent fair position within the NAM on the settlement of the conflict.

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. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

Non-Alignment Movement is an international organization uniting 120 countries on the principles of non-participation in military blocs. The movement was formally established by 25 states at the Belgrade Conference in September 1961.

Azerbaijan became a full member of the movement in 2011.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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