Ilham Aliyev: everyone will benefit after status quo in Karabakh changes

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, following the talks with the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, expressed hope that Armenia will attend the calls of the Minsk Group to change the status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"Changing the status quo is the main condition for a comprehensive settlement of the conflict. As soon as that happens there will be peace, tranquility and cooperation in the region. Everyone will benefit from it," RIA Novosti cited Ilham Aliyev as saying.

Recall, on the night of April 2 all frontier positions of Azerbaijan were exposed to heavy fire from large-caliber weapons, mortars, grenade launchers and guns. In addition, Azerbaijani settlements near the front line, densely populated by civilians, were shelled.

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% 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 US, are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.