Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijan supports resolution of its Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia within the framework of international law that would suit all parties involved, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said addressing the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, according to the Conference's website.

"Four UN resolutions demanding liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan have been adopted over the years of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and there was the Prague process [a series of talks between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers which began in April 2004], but it never got off the ground. Today we feel the need for rapid resolution of the conflict," he said.

Mammadyarov cited the need of withdrawal of the Armenian troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan for ensuring sustainable development and stability in the volatile region, stressing that the state of uncertainty persists in the South Caucasus due to the hostile policy of Armenia.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war that ended with the signing of a fragile cease-fire in 1994 and displaced over one million Azerbaijanis from their homes, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding regions. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are brokering peace negotiations, but their efforts have been largely fruitless so far.

Mammadyarov noted that the expulsion of the local population from the Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani lands, subjecting them to ethnic cleansing and simultaneous efforts to confuse and mislead the world community on this issue is unacceptable in the 21st century.

Speaking about the development dynamics of Azerbaijan, the minister said the country has a very important geo-strategic role in the region because of its vast energy resources.

"Azerbaijan is ready to supply its gas to European countries via gas pipelines such as Nabucco West and Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline, after implementation of which great amounts of gas will be supplied to Europe," Mammadyarov said. He added that today these projects are very important as they will ensure the energy security of Europe.

However, Azerbaijan's priority is the development of not only oil infrastructure projects. Over the 20 years of independence, billions of dollars have been invested in the non-oil sector of the economy, Mammadyarov said.

He emphasized the importance of the project on the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway -- which aims to link the railway systems of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to transport large amounts of cargo and passengers, providing transportation of cargo via Georgia to Europe, and is due to be fully commissioned in 2014.

The minister said further that Azerbaijan will launch its first satellite within the Arianespace program, which is also an important achievement of the country.

Mammadyarov said the country is also developing its agro-industrial sector.

"All these achievements make Azerbaijan an important country in the region," he said.

Also, noting the successful cooperation in the region, the minister underlined that the present Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is the main obstacle hindering this cooperation.

He said that if the conflict is settled as soon as possible, it will positively affect the future of the region.

Mammadyarov noted that the continued occupation of Azerbaijani lands adversely affects Armenia itself, which is not involved in regional development. Thus, because of its aggressive policy Armenia cannot benefit from the regional cooperation.

Mammadyarov said now is the best time to resolve the conflict, which threatens the stability and security of the South Caucasus, and urged Armenia to abandon its destructive policy.

"It is high time to resolve the conflict in order to achieve peace in the region," Mammadyarov said.