Azernews.Az

BAKU – Azerbaijan is seeking a more vigorous effort from the European Union in settling its conflict with Armenia over Nagorno (Upper) Karabakh, a senior official said Thursday.

Elnur Aslanov, a department head at the Presidential Administration, told the Security Forum of the Southern Caucasus in Baku that Azerbaijan is seeking "a more serious" effort by the EU regarding the uncontrolled areas in its Armenia-occupied territories.

Regarding talks on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict that have been ongoing for 18 years, Aslanov said Armenia is delaying the negotiating process under various pretexts, thus impeding the endeavors on ensuring regional security.

The Presidential Administration official reminded that Nagorno Karabakh is Azerbaijan’s inseparable land. He noted that Armenians have lived there together with Azerbaijanis for two centuries.

"We admit that. But there are also principles of international law. In keeping with that, we are saying Nagorno Karabakh will remain Azerbaijan’s land. There won’t be any other approach to this issue. We want international organizations to put forward a specific stance on the matter, not to talk in vain."

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for two decades. 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory has been under Armenian occupation since the two countries signed a cease-fire in 1994 following a lengthy war. OSCE-brokered peace talks have been largely fruitless so far.