NATO urges peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict

NATO stands for relaxation of tension in connection with the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, NATO special representative for South Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai told reporters in Tbilisi on Monday.

"We are closely watching the developments and note that in recent weeks, the confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan dramatically escalated and this causes our concern," he said.

Appathurai stressed that NATO is not involved in the settlement of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, but supports the Minsk process.

"We are for de-escalation of tension, which leads to new aggravation of the situation in the region. We are for the peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of satisfying the requirements of both sides," he stressed.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.


/Trend/