Top official: Frontline tensions to continue until liberation of Azerbaijan’s occupied lands

The tension on the frontline will continue, regardless of whether we want it or not, until the liberation of Azerbaijani lands occupied by Armenia, withdrawal of Armenian occupation troops from those lands and reaching a peace agreement, Ali Hasanov, the Azerbaijani president's aide for public and political affairs, told the Region TV channel May 4.

The recent shelling of civilians showed Armenia's destructive position in the talks on resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said the top official, adding that it is also shown on the line of contact.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

/By Trend/