Azerbaijani FM: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict hinders regional cooperation
By Sara Rajabova
The Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which broke out as a result of Armenia's military aggression continuing for more than 20 years and its groundless territorial claims, is a clear example of factors hindering the regional cooperation, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said.
He was speaking at a meeting of the Foreign Ministers as part of the third summit of the Council of Turkic-Speaking States on August 15, which is taking place in Azerbaijani city Gabala.
"While speaking about regional cooperation, it is impossible not to touch upon the factors impeding this cooperation," Mammadyarov underlined.
He stressed that aggressive separatism, national and ethnic conflicts, the steps aimed at violent change of the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan as well as violation of its territorial integrity must be assessed as a threat, which represents a serious danger.
As a result of the policy of ethnic cleansing pursued by Armenia, 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory is under occupation and more than one million Azerbaijanis have become refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), Mammadyarov noted.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early 1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions.
Armenia has not enforced the UN Security Council's four resolutions on withdrawal of its troops from the occupied territories to this day.
"Azerbaijan advocates for the withdrawal of Armenian forces from its territories and the implementation of the UN resolutions," Mammadyarov emphasized.
He thanked all the countries, supporting Azerbaijan's position in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The development of economic relations between the member countries of Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States will be the priority for Azerbaijan's chairmanship, he underscored.
Meanwhile, addressing the foreign ministers' meeting Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu noted that Turkey is ready to do everything possible to end the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia.
According to Davutoglu, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the main obstacle to the stabilization of the South Caucasus region.
"Despite the fact that negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have been going on for more than 20 years, no results have yet been achieved. This is a very sad fact," he stressed.