Karabakh conflict poses threat to regional stability, says minister

/By AzerNews/

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

As Armenia remains lock in a cycle of violence against Azerbaijan, keen to foil every attempt a meaningful peace with its neighbor, Azerbaijan has had to prepare its military for every possible eventuality.

Before the Armenian threat, Azerbaijan needs to possess a strong military and well-equipped army.

Cooperation with foreign countries to that regard is therefore very important. Baku needs to stand ready and capable to defend and protect its people from foreign aggression, especially when such threat comes from Armenia, a country which has already proven what ravages it stands ready to carry out.

Armenia is a major threat to regional peace and stability, Azerbaijan's Defense Minister, Zakir Hasanov said at a meeting with a top Croatian official on March 11.

Referring to the protracted conflict in Azerbaijan's occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region at a meeting with Chairman of Croatia's Economic Chamber, Luka Burilovich, Hasanov highlighted the importance of settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan problem under international norm within the parameters of Azerbaijan's territorial sovereignty.

Colonel General Hasanov also discussed with Burilovich plans to enhance Azerbaijan and Croatia's ties in the field of defense.

Hasanov looked at Croatian companies defense industry portfolio, via a slide-show presented at the meeting.

Ways of expanding bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia stood at the forefront of talks between Hasanov and Croatian President, Kolina Grabar-Kitarovic in Zagreb on March 11.

Hasanov's visit was highly appreciated in view that it will help contribute to further military cooperation between the two countries and therefore expand existing relations.

Back in 1992, following a violent and bloody conflict, Armenia violated Azerbaijan's territorial sovereignty by occupying one five of its territory, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts, thus plunging the South Caucasus region into a protracted conflict.

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

Not only has Armenia refused to comply with several UN Security Council resolutions, but it has systematically violated upon Azerbaijan's territorial sovereignty by targeting its civilians and allowing its armed forces to target villages in wake of periodical sabotage operations.

Although Baku has tried time and time again to broker a peaceful resolution to the conflict in view of preserving regional stability and promoting tolerance, Armenia has ignored all calls for restraint.