The only solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the complete and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani defense ministry told Trend March 2.
“The issue must be resolved by Armenia’s compliance with norms and principles of the international law or the Armenian armed forces must be expelled from the Azerbaijani territories by the country’s armed forces to restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,” the defense ministry said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council’s four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Trend