Azerbaijani community head: Armenians must realize they will be unable to live in Karabakh
Armenians need to understand that they will be unable to live in Nagorno-Karabakh for a long time supporting their present position, chairman of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region public association Bayram Safarov told journalists on Friday, Trend news agency reported.
The Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh using opportunities created for it by Azerbaijan, must agree with the proposed status, Safarov said.
He added that Armenians must show a serious approach to the assessment of peace talks as soon as possible.
Armenian society is aware of the reasons obstructing peaceful cohabitation with Azerbaijanis, as it was previously and they should eliminate these reasons, he said.
Safarov also expressed his support to hold meetings between the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh.
"We are always ready and willing to talk with representatives of Armenian intellectuals and ordinary people who are concerned and think about the future of young people and the comfortable life of the population.
"I believe that there still are Armenians who feel sympathetic towards the Azerbaijani people and do not forget their friendship and they must have their say. These Armenians are ready to recognise the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and co-residence on its territory, but they cannot take serious steps, knowing they will be put in danger by expressing such a position," Safarov said.
Today, on the 21st anniversary of the Armenian occupation of Khankendi, the members of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region public association, intellectuals from Khankendi and representatives of public visited the Alley of Martyrs in Baku.
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 the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions regarding the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.