AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Jan 16 2015
Resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict main priority of 2014
16 January 2015, 23:38 (GMT+04:00)
By Sara Rajabova
Continuation of efforts to settle the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the elimination of the consequences of the
Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan were the priorities in
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's activity for 2014.
The remarks made in the report of the Ministry on the results of the
2014 year, issued on January 15.
The Ministry's priorities also included preventing external threats to
Azerbaijan's independence and sovereignty, and development of
bilateral, regional and international relations.
"Protection of national interests, creation of equal relations in line
with the norms and principles of international law, non-interference
in the domestic affairs of other states remain as the main principles
of Azerbaijan's foreign policy," the report read.
Numerous reciprocal official and state visits were carried out, the
list of Azerbaijan's diplomatic missions abroad was expanded and the
work with international organizations continued in 2014, according the
Ministry.
The ministry went on to note that the year 2014 is characterized by
the growth of conflicts and escalation of tension in international
relations, as well as a tendency to deepen the collapse of the
military-political blocs.
"New flashpoints of tension, instability and conflict emerged near the
borders of Azerbaijan, and a black PR campaign was conducted against
Azerbaijan under the influence of certain circles. Despite all this,
in 2014, the implementation of the country's successful independent
foreign policy continued," the report reads.
Noting the negotiations on the peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict continued in 2014, the Ministry said during the high-level
meetings held on the initiative of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing
countries, the sides were urged to start the work on the Great Peace
Agreement.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the
early 1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian
armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's
internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and
seven adjacent regions.
"Azerbaijan has repeatedly expressed readiness to start work on this
agreement. Despite the existence of positive trends for the conflict's
settlement, Armenia continues to adhere to the non-constructive
position," the report reads.
The Ministry also stressed that Armenia purposefully and intensively
violates the ceasefire in order to maintain the status quo, adding
that Yerevan has held large-scale military exercises on Azerbaijan's
occupied territories.
Azerbaijan also continued its efforts to achieve the international
recognition of the fact of occupation of its territories and to
communicate to the world the truth about the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, according to the Ministry.
It also added that it will continue the efforts to achieve the release
of Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, the Azerbaijanis taken hostage
by Armenians in the Kalbajar region.
Armenian special forces killed Azerbaijani citizen Hasan Hasanov and
took hostage Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov in the Shaplar village
of the occupied Kelbajar region on July 11. The civilians were
visiting the graves of their relatives. The Armenians have put on
trial on October 27 the two Azerbaijanis, who were captured in their
native lands by the Armenian separatists.
Despite repeated calls by the international organizations and foreign
countries on Armenia to return the captives back to their country,
nothing has been made in this regard so far.
From: A. Papazian
Jan 16 2015
Resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict main priority of 2014
16 January 2015, 23:38 (GMT+04:00)
By Sara Rajabova
Continuation of efforts to settle the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the elimination of the consequences of the
Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan were the priorities in
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's activity for 2014.
The remarks made in the report of the Ministry on the results of the
2014 year, issued on January 15.
The Ministry's priorities also included preventing external threats to
Azerbaijan's independence and sovereignty, and development of
bilateral, regional and international relations.
"Protection of national interests, creation of equal relations in line
with the norms and principles of international law, non-interference
in the domestic affairs of other states remain as the main principles
of Azerbaijan's foreign policy," the report read.
Numerous reciprocal official and state visits were carried out, the
list of Azerbaijan's diplomatic missions abroad was expanded and the
work with international organizations continued in 2014, according the
Ministry.
The ministry went on to note that the year 2014 is characterized by
the growth of conflicts and escalation of tension in international
relations, as well as a tendency to deepen the collapse of the
military-political blocs.
"New flashpoints of tension, instability and conflict emerged near the
borders of Azerbaijan, and a black PR campaign was conducted against
Azerbaijan under the influence of certain circles. Despite all this,
in 2014, the implementation of the country's successful independent
foreign policy continued," the report reads.
Noting the negotiations on the peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict continued in 2014, the Ministry said during the high-level
meetings held on the initiative of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing
countries, the sides were urged to start the work on the Great Peace
Agreement.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the
early 1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian
armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's
internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and
seven adjacent regions.
"Azerbaijan has repeatedly expressed readiness to start work on this
agreement. Despite the existence of positive trends for the conflict's
settlement, Armenia continues to adhere to the non-constructive
position," the report reads.
The Ministry also stressed that Armenia purposefully and intensively
violates the ceasefire in order to maintain the status quo, adding
that Yerevan has held large-scale military exercises on Azerbaijan's
occupied territories.
Azerbaijan also continued its efforts to achieve the international
recognition of the fact of occupation of its territories and to
communicate to the world the truth about the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, according to the Ministry.
It also added that it will continue the efforts to achieve the release
of Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, the Azerbaijanis taken hostage
by Armenians in the Kalbajar region.
Armenian special forces killed Azerbaijani citizen Hasan Hasanov and
took hostage Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov in the Shaplar village
of the occupied Kelbajar region on July 11. The civilians were
visiting the graves of their relatives. The Armenians have put on
trial on October 27 the two Azerbaijanis, who were captured in their
native lands by the Armenian separatists.
Despite repeated calls by the international organizations and foreign
countries on Armenia to return the captives back to their country,
nothing has been made in this regard so far.
From: A. Papazian