Department of State calls to support dialogue between Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders

OSCE countries should support the resumption of dialogue between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland said at the OSCE Ministerial Council, held on Dec. 5 in Kiev.

According to her, dialogue between the two leaders of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict's sides is the best hope for a sustainable peace.

"Residents of the conflict sides have been waiting too long for the restoration of peace and stability in the region," Nuland said.

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/