U.S. State Department accuses Armenia of backing separatist regime

Separatists, with Armenia's support, continue to control most of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven other Azerbaijani territories, US State Department stated in its report "On Human Rights Practices for 2012".

'The final status of Nagorno-Karabakh remained the subject of international mediation by the OSCE Minsk Group, co chaired by Russia, France, and the United States,' the report says.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan and Armenia 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 occupied territories.


/Trend/