Erdogan calls on ECO, OIC to show determination on Karabakh conflict resolution

By Azernews

By Rashid Shirinov

The continuing occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia slows the economic development in the South Caucasus region and creates obstacles for effective cooperation between countries of the region, said Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Turkish president made the remark while addressing a meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization in Islamabad, further calling on the ECO and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to show determination in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

 “The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has existed for over 20 years and is not resolved yet, it is necessary to raise this issue at every international arena,” Erdogan said.

Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.