TODAY.AZ / Politics

Defense minister: Armenia attempts to destabilize situation on frontline

26 October 2016 [15:15] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Rashid Shirinov

Armenia tries to destabilize the situation on the frontline, Azerbaijan's Minister of Defense, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov said during his meeting with Herbert Salber, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus.

The minister received a delegation headed by Herbert Salber on October 26.

Discussing the current situation over the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Hasanov stressed that 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories still remain under occupation of Armenian troops, which led to displacement of over 1 million Azerbaijanis from their native lands.

The minister also informed about constant Armenian provocations conducted on the contact line of the troops.

In turn, Salber said that it is necessary to bring peace in the South Caucasus region, adding that the European Union is for peaceful settlement of the conflict as soon as it is possible.

 “It is necessary to continue the negotiations,” he said.

The parties also exchanged views on the military and political situation in the region and other issues.

Earlier, Herbert Salber was received by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Deputy PM, chair of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov.

During his Azerbaijan visit, Salber will also visit the country’s west to inspect the conditions created for refugees and IDP settled close to the frontline.

Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions of Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly one million were displaced as a result of the war. Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions are temporarily out of the control of Azerbaijan as a result of Armenia’s aggression.

Two decades of talks mediated by the OSCE MG group have failed to produce a breakthrough, and the renewed hostilities in April 2016, the worst since the ceasefire deal signed in 1994, were assessed as the result of inactivity of the international community.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/155490.html

Print version

Views: 1225

Connect with us. Get latest news and updates.

Recommend news to friend

  • Your name:
  • Your e-mail:
  • Friend's name:
  • Friend's e-mail: