Australia replies to Azerbaijan's protest note (UPDATE)
By Seymur Aliyev
Australia supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and informs that this position has not changed, said a letter by the Australian government.
Australia was replying to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's protest note over the resolution adopted by the Legislative Council of New South Wales in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh, which is currently under Armenian occupation, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend news agency today.
A response note stressed that the Australian government's position on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict remains unchanged. In line with the position of the international community, Australia does not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent country.
A while ago, Armenian internet resources circulated information that Australian state South Wales adopted a resolution "Recognizing the right to self-determination of peoples', including Nagorno Karabakh.
In this regard, Azerbaijan sent protest note to the Australian Embassy in Turkey.
"The Australian Government hopes that the conflict will be resolved through the dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia," the note said. "The Australian Government supports peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group."
The letter underscored that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Australia continues both bilaterally and within international organizations.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.