Azerbaijani FM, OSCE MG co-chairs discuss Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
By Rashid Shirinov
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has discussed the issues of accelerating the peace process on settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group in New York.
The meeting was held in the framework of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister’s participation at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly.
The sides also discussed the issues of achieving significant results in the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend on September 22.
Mammadyarov noted that the latest provocative actions of Armenia, in particular the training exercises with live firing and military exercises in the occupied territories of the Agdam region of Azerbaijan, aim to undermine the negotiation process.
On September 20, Armenian Armed Forces began military exercises in the occupied territory of Azerbaijani Agdam region. According to media reports, Armenian troops hold exercises in Agdam using armored vehicles and artillery.
Prior to this meeting, Elmar Mammadyarov also mulled the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier.
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.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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