Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov said during his speech in the parliament about the report titled 'Recent developments on the line of contact: Problems of the international humanitarian law' that the Nagorno Karabakh problem is not an internal conflict, it's international, since it is based on Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan.
"In fact, it is a conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and it is based on the neighboring country's territorial claims against Azerbaijan, as well as the occupation of its lands. The Armenian declaration of independence also referred to the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh. Immediately after its establishment, the Armenian state made territorial claims against Karabakh," Khalafov explained.
Now, according to the Deputy Minister, Azerbaijan is directing all resources to prevent the consequences of the occupation and to restore the territorial integrity, APA reports.
"The ceasefire was partially restored. I am asked abroad that what kind of ceasefire it is, which is violated hundred times a day? We will use all means to liberate our territories," Khalafov summed up.
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.
