Defense chief: Separatism in Nagorno-Karabakh led to spread of problem into Russia
Failure to prevent separatism in Nagorno-Karabakh over time led to the spread of the problem and now Russia has encountered it, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev said at a meeting with Russian Ambassador Vladimir Dorokhin, Trend news agency reported on Monday.
As for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Abiyev said that one of the main causes of this problem is the unsuccessful activity of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group, one of the co-chairs of which is Russia.
The meeting also discussed military cooperation between the two countries.
Dorokhin introduced the new military attaché of the Russian Federation in Azerbaijan.
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 regarding a pullout from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
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