Azernews.Az

NATO has no plans to be involved in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh nor in the peace process which is underway with the OSCE Minsk Group`s mediation, the alliance`s special envoy for the Caucasus and Central Asia, James Appathurai, was quoted by NATO Community.org website as saying in an interview.

``There is concern over the Minsk process,`` Appathurai said. ``We have heard from the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan here at NATO headquarters in recent weeks that they are committed to the process and the peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh crisis. However, the reality is that the Minsk process is accompanied by difficulties, especially in recent years.``

The region of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not receiving as much attention from international media as it deserves, Appathurai said.

He noted that the South Caucasus is of crucial strategic importance due to its location, potential and the transit of energy and role in energy supply.

``For many people, and for many reasons, it is important that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is resolved peacefully as soon as possible and in accordance with the principles of international law,`` Appathurai added.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in the region since a brutal war between the two South Caucasus neighbors in the early 1990s that claimed some 30,000 lives and displaced about one million Azerbaijanis from their homes. Armenian armed forces have since occupied a part of Azerbaijan`s territory, including Nagorno Karabakh.

Peace talks, brokered by the United States, Russia and France through the OSCE Minsk Group, have been largely fruitless so far.

This story is published by AzerNEWS Weekly under a project funded by the Foundation for State Assistance to the Development of the Media under the President of the Azerbaijan Republic.