Azernews.Az

Azerbaijani society based on religious and ethnic tolerance may be a model for Belgians, Member of Belgian Parliament, Alain Courtois said.

He made the remarks answering the questions of the European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) regarding the tolerance of the Azerbaijani society and Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Azerbaijan is one of the countries known to very few in Belgium. Notwithstanding that there is cultural diversity in the Azerbaijani society, this state is often considered as 'a country that is far'," Courtois said.

According to Courtois, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that has lasted for over 20 years hinders the region's fully benefiting from its economic, geographical, and cultural potential.

"It is not acceptable that Armenia still has not implemented the resolutions adopted in 1993 by the UN Security Council," the Belgian MP said. "I think that, any constructive negotiations should be conducted based on the international law and principles. Armenia should agree with this international frame and must respect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Only after that, the balanced negotiations will be brought to the settlement that would be effective for the whole South Caucasus region."

There is no doubt that the refugee and IDP problem in Azerbaijan is a tragedy, Courtois underscored.

"I call for the international community to pay more attention to this forgotten problem. While the international community pays so much attention to the human tragedy in Syria, this old refugee and IDP problem in the South Caucasus remains out of attention. This creates obstacles for Azerbaijan's social and economic development and its sustainable future," he added.

Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million displaced by the war.

Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994 but Armenia has continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal.

Peace talks mediated by Russia, France and the US have produced no results so far.