Armenia speculates on treaty with Russia – Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Araz Azimov, called political speculation statements of Armenian officials declaring that Russia will defend Armenia in the event of war, Trend reports.

Mr Azimov said that the influence of the Russian military base in case of armed conflict is at the very list doubtful. So these statements are made by Armenian officials to rise their popularity back at home and to exercise political pressure on Azerbaijan. “There is no foresight in such statements" - told Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan to journalists on Saturday.

Azimov emphasized that Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijan's territory occupied by Armenia.

The conflict between the two South Caucasian 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 peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the surrounding territories.
"Azerbaijan wants to liberate its occupied territories peacefully. If Armenia appreciated the efforts aimed at resolving the conflict peacefully, the problem will be solved," Azimov said.

According to Azimov, Armenia rejected the proposal of the Minsk Group co-chairs, which led to a crisis in the negotiating process.

"So what is the main issue here? Does Armenia recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan? Is Armenia ready to support the development of a project that will help two communities of Nagorno-Karabakh to live together within the territory of Azerbaijan? If Armenia recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan will recognize the territorial integrity of Armenia," Araz Azimov said.