Azernews.Az

First vice-speaker of Azerbaijan`s parliament Ziyafat Asgarov has met Georgian Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees David Darakhvelidze to discuss the relations between the two countries.

"Relations between the two countries started to develop after they restored their independence. Our people are bound together by ties of history," Asgarov said.

He highlighted Azerbaijan`s social and political achievements, as well as the situation of refugees and IDPs in the country. He noted that "as a result of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh more than 20% of Azerbaijani lands had been occupied by aggressor Armenia, while more than a million people were expelled from their homelands". "The damage was more than 300 billion US dollars."

The parliament`s vice-speaker said Armenia continued to disregard resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council, Council of Europe, European Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation demanding unconditional liberation of the Azerbaijani territories and withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces.

Asgarov highlighted what the Azerbaijani government had been doing to improve the living conditions of refugees and IDPs.

"Some 78 urban-type districts for IDPs have been built. But this is temporary. These people want to return to their homelands," he added.

Darakhvelidze praised the results of his meetings in Azerbaijan, and shared his impressions about meetings with refugees and IDPs in the country.

He also spoke of problems of IDPs in Georgia and highlighted government`s work to tackle these problems.

The Georgian minister said regional conflicts in Georgia and Azerbaijan "must be solved in accordance with the principles of the territorial integrity of the countries".