AZERBAIJANI PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO UN ADDRESSES SECURITY COUNCIL`S MEETING

Baku, April 22 (AzerTAc). Azerbaijan`s permanent representative to the United Nations, ambassador Agshin Mehdiyev reported Tuesday on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh at the United Nations Security Council`s meeting dealing with “Maintenance of international peace and security: Mediation and settlement of disputes.”
Mehdiyev noted almost one-fifth of the territory of Azerbaijan was occupied by Armenia in the wake of the conflict, with one of every eight Azerbaijani becoming internally displaced persons or refugees.
He stressed Armenia grossly violate international law principles including that concerning territorial integrity of states. “Though the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs` efforts to settle the dispute yielded no results, Azerbaijan supports peaceful resolution of the conflict,” Mehdiyev noted.
The ambassador pointed out the dispute can be settled on the basis of respect for Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of the country`s internationally recognized borders.
Determination of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan is possible only if peace is maintained, he added.
According to Mehdiyev, to settle the conflict through mediation, Armenia must withdraw its armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, IDPs must return to their homes and rebuilding process must be started in the region.
Though Azerbaijan supports peaceful resolution of the conflict the country will never make any concessions regarding its territorial integrity, he added.
Participants also heard a report made by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on enhancing mediation and its support activities.
UN Deputy Secretary General for political issues Linn Pascod addressed the event, as well.