Center for Strategic Studies hosts 'roundtable' on Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts

The Center for strategic studies under the Azerbaijan President has hosted today a “roundtable” meeting entitled “Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh: differences and contradictions.”

The event was addressed by Celal Cem Oguz, head of the Turkish Center for Strategic and International Studies, Mark Almond, professor in international relations at Bilkent University and David Barchard, lecturer at the same university.

The purpose of the event was to determine differences and contrasts between Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts.

Cem Oguz said conflicts in the Balkans and South Caucasus must be distinguished from each-other. He said Kosovo can not be a precedent for Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and Armenians` relevant claims are groundless.

Mark Almond drew attention to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, calling the international community to increase efforts towards settling the dispute.

David Barchard, in turn, said the fact that more than one million Azerbaijanis were forced to leave their homelands was unacceptable. He said the international community should contribute to ensuring rights of Azerbaijani IDPs.

Attending the event, member of Azerbaijan Parliament Aydin Mirzazade said there were great differences between Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts. Mirzazade noted it was unacceptable to think that Kosovo's independence could set a precedent for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

He underlined the fact that Armenia had occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent regions were reflected in relevant documents adopted by international organizations. The event was attended by officials, MPs, diplomats and experts.


/AzerTac/