ID :
92883
Thu, 12/03/2009 - 00:58
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http://m.oananews.org//node/92883
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AZERI FM: ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT STILL REMAINS MAJOR SOURCE OF INSTABILITY AND IMPEDIMENT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Baku, 2 December (AzerTAc). The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict still remains a major source of instability and impediment to the economic development and integration of the entire region of the South Caucasus into the European and Euro-Atlantic architecture, Azerbaijan`s foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov said in his remarks in the 17th OSCE Ministerial Council in Athens.
The minister noted “as a result of this conflict almost 20% of the territory of Azerbaijan has been still occupied by Armenia, around 1 million ethnically cleansed Azerbaijani population has become internally displaced and refugees, thousands of Azerbaijani historical-cultural heritage items on the occupied territories devastated and looted”.
According to him, “this year was remarkable in terms of the intensiveness of the meetings between the Presidents of the both sides, and the detailed and in-depth discussions of the most important yet unresolved issues”.
“I should admit that there are the positive dynamics through the latest talks and both sides together with the Minsk Group Co-chairs agreed to intensify negotiations”.
Mammadyarov stressed “Azerbaijan maintains a position of constructiveness and stands for peaceful and cooperative coexistence of Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
“This will create basis for normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan”, he added.
The minister pointed out “providing self-governance for Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan will be a just and durable solution, as well as it can dramatically reduce tensions and challenges for peace and stability in the region”.
“We in Azerbaijan strongly believe that withdrawal of Armenian troops in a fixed time framework from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan will open a tremendous opportunity for the region, providing different environment of predictability, development and benefit for everyone and for the entire region.”
The minister noted “as a result of this conflict almost 20% of the territory of Azerbaijan has been still occupied by Armenia, around 1 million ethnically cleansed Azerbaijani population has become internally displaced and refugees, thousands of Azerbaijani historical-cultural heritage items on the occupied territories devastated and looted”.
According to him, “this year was remarkable in terms of the intensiveness of the meetings between the Presidents of the both sides, and the detailed and in-depth discussions of the most important yet unresolved issues”.
“I should admit that there are the positive dynamics through the latest talks and both sides together with the Minsk Group Co-chairs agreed to intensify negotiations”.
Mammadyarov stressed “Azerbaijan maintains a position of constructiveness and stands for peaceful and cooperative coexistence of Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
“This will create basis for normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan”, he added.
The minister pointed out “providing self-governance for Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan will be a just and durable solution, as well as it can dramatically reduce tensions and challenges for peace and stability in the region”.
“We in Azerbaijan strongly believe that withdrawal of Armenian troops in a fixed time framework from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan will open a tremendous opportunity for the region, providing different environment of predictability, development and benefit for everyone and for the entire region.”
