USE OF FORCE NOT TO RESOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT, U.S. EMBASSY SAYS
Trend, Azerbaijan
July 17 2014
Baku, Azerbaijan, July 17
By Sabina Ahmadova - Trend:
The use of force will not resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the
U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan told Trend on July 17.
The embassy made a statement, commenting on the Armenian media reports
on the hostage-taking of two Azerbaijanis and launching a criminal
case against them, as well as, the killing of another Azerbaijani by
the Armenian separatists in the Shaplar village of Kalbajar District.
It should be noted that the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan has been
under Armenian occupation since April 2, 1993.
"The use of force will not resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
and we reiterate our call upon all parties to refrain from the use
or threat of force," the U.S. embassy said.
"The United States, as a co-chair of the Minsk Group, remains deeply
committed to working with the parties to achieve a peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
Earlier, the Armenian media reported that the Armenian forces,
during an operation in the occupied Kalbajar District's Shaplar
village, killed an Azerbaijani - Hasan Hasanov, and detained two
other Azerbaijanis - Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov. They also
reported about the launching of criminal cases against the detained
Azerbaijanis.
On July 15, the Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners of War,
Hostages and Missing People said the fate of Azerbaijani citizens
taken hostages in the Kalbajar District, is its priority.
Ilaha Huseynova, the Head of the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) Baku Office Communication Department told Trend on July
16 that the families of Azerbaijanis, taken hostage by Armenians in
Kalbajar officially appealed to the ICRC.
She added that currently the ICRC continues talks with the parties
on this matter.
Previously, it was reported that Azerbaijan appealed to the ICRC
to clarify the media reports on the hostage-taking of Azerbaijani
citizens by the Armenian side.
The appeal contained a request to carry out the necessary procedures
in accordance with the ICRC's mandate, in case if the information
is confirmed.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry dismissed the Armenian media
reports on affiliation of the mentioned persons to the country's
armed forces.
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 two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently
holding 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.
From: Baghdasarian
Trend, Azerbaijan
July 17 2014
Baku, Azerbaijan, July 17
By Sabina Ahmadova - Trend:
The use of force will not resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the
U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan told Trend on July 17.
The embassy made a statement, commenting on the Armenian media reports
on the hostage-taking of two Azerbaijanis and launching a criminal
case against them, as well as, the killing of another Azerbaijani by
the Armenian separatists in the Shaplar village of Kalbajar District.
It should be noted that the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan has been
under Armenian occupation since April 2, 1993.
"The use of force will not resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
and we reiterate our call upon all parties to refrain from the use
or threat of force," the U.S. embassy said.
"The United States, as a co-chair of the Minsk Group, remains deeply
committed to working with the parties to achieve a peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
Earlier, the Armenian media reported that the Armenian forces,
during an operation in the occupied Kalbajar District's Shaplar
village, killed an Azerbaijani - Hasan Hasanov, and detained two
other Azerbaijanis - Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov. They also
reported about the launching of criminal cases against the detained
Azerbaijanis.
On July 15, the Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners of War,
Hostages and Missing People said the fate of Azerbaijani citizens
taken hostages in the Kalbajar District, is its priority.
Ilaha Huseynova, the Head of the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) Baku Office Communication Department told Trend on July
16 that the families of Azerbaijanis, taken hostage by Armenians in
Kalbajar officially appealed to the ICRC.
She added that currently the ICRC continues talks with the parties
on this matter.
Previously, it was reported that Azerbaijan appealed to the ICRC
to clarify the media reports on the hostage-taking of Azerbaijani
citizens by the Armenian side.
The appeal contained a request to carry out the necessary procedures
in accordance with the ICRC's mandate, in case if the information
is confirmed.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry dismissed the Armenian media
reports on affiliation of the mentioned persons to the country's
armed forces.
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 two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently
holding 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.
From: Baghdasarian