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Azerbaijani MP calls for discussion over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

1 October 2014 11:27 (UTC+04:00)
Azerbaijani MP calls for discussion over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

By Sara Rajabova

An Azerbaijani MP has stressed the importance of holding discussions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Addressing a debate on a report by the Standing Committee, Head of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Samad Seyidov noted that each time when there is a chance to reach an agreement on regional issues, in particular on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenian deputies in PACE say this is only the OSCE Minsk Group which can resolve the conflict.

Seyidov noted that during a discussion on the establishment of a subcommittee on Nagorno-Karabakh under the Assembly, Armenians rejected the idea and repeatedly refused to hold debate on how to address the problem. He added that the time has come to hear the opinion of the Council of Europe on such issues.

He stressed that it is important to have an impartial report of the Council of Europe on the issue.

Meanwhile, member of the Azerbaijani delegation to the PACE Rafael Huseynov said there are appropriate grounds to discuss the issue on Nagorno-Karabakh region and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan in the political committee. He also called for the appointment of a special rapporteur on this issue.

He went on to say that the PACE Bureau welcomed the report on "The escalation of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan" and addressed the committee on political affairs and democracy for the appointment of the rapporteur on the issue.

"Armenian political circles made ​​various provocations to obstruct the positive solution of this issue. The representative of Armenia said there is no need for any rapporteur, as this is the responsibility of the OSCE Minsk Group," Huseynov said.

He rejected the idea as groundless, adding that the appointment is needed for further discussion and dialogue over the conflict.

Huseynov noted that the title of the above-mentioned report fully reflects the reality and rising tension requires a separate discussion in the Political Committee and appointment of special rapporteur on the issue.

For over two decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in the conflict which emerged over Armenia's territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions.

Peace talks, mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. through the OSCE Minsk Group, are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid Principles. The negotiations have been largely fruitless so far.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on its pullout from the neighboring country's territories.

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