Azerbaijan's defense minister on statements by Armenian officials on Russia's backing

Azerbaijan's defence minister says statements by the Armenian officials claiming that Russia will protect Armenia are political and psychological statements.

"These are political and psychological statements. They do not demonstrate any force and testify only to Armenia's weakness," Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev told reporters.

Armenian officials claim Russia will side with Armenia in case of a war.

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

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the United States - are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.


/Trend/