Iran says regional states` efforts key to Garabagh settlement
The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh can be settled strictly by efforts of the regional states,
Iranian Ambassador in Baku, Mahammad Bagir Bahrami, says.
``Outside countries have been dealing with the issue for 17 years, but the problem remains unresolved. They are pursuing their own goals. The work of the OSCE Minsk Group [brokering peace talks] is a good example of this,`` Bahrami told a news conference Tuesday.
Bahrami said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had agreed during talks with Iranian officials that Tehran should do everything in its power to achieve a negotiated solution to the Garabagh conflict within the region.
The ambassador emphasized that Iran`s relations with Armenia are aimed not against Azerbaijan but at a peaceful settlement of the long-standing dispute.
Bahrami added that he hoped ``to celebrate the return of Garabagh to Azerbaijani control some day.``
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Despite numerous rounds of OSCE-brokered negotiations, peace talks have been without results so far and refugees remain stranded.
Asked about Iranian companies` alleged forging trade ties with the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic, Bahrami said their investments in the region were possible.
``I can say that, if these are companies not linked to the government but are special companies, we are unaware of that. And I would like to sincerely say that, maybe, there are [such companies], it`s possible. But I am not aware of that. The state has not sent any companies there, and, even if this happens, this is not aimed against the Azerbaijan Republic.``
Commenting on Iran`s alleged gas supplies to Upper Garabagh, Bahrami said he was unaware of such deliveries.
``Outside countries have been dealing with the issue for 17 years, but the problem remains unresolved. They are pursuing their own goals. The work of the OSCE Minsk Group [brokering peace talks] is a good example of this,`` Bahrami told a news conference Tuesday.
Bahrami said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had agreed during talks with Iranian officials that Tehran should do everything in its power to achieve a negotiated solution to the Garabagh conflict within the region.
The ambassador emphasized that Iran`s relations with Armenia are aimed not against Azerbaijan but at a peaceful settlement of the long-standing dispute.
Bahrami added that he hoped ``to celebrate the return of Garabagh to Azerbaijani control some day.``
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Despite numerous rounds of OSCE-brokered negotiations, peace talks have been without results so far and refugees remain stranded.
Asked about Iranian companies` alleged forging trade ties with the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic, Bahrami said their investments in the region were possible.
``I can say that, if these are companies not linked to the government but are special companies, we are unaware of that. And I would like to sincerely say that, maybe, there are [such companies], it`s possible. But I am not aware of that. The state has not sent any companies there, and, even if this happens, this is not aimed against the Azerbaijan Republic.``
Commenting on Iran`s alleged gas supplies to Upper Garabagh, Bahrami said he was unaware of such deliveries.
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