Official: NATO does not want to even think about possibility of a war between Armenia, Azerbaijan

By Azernews

By Rashid Shirinov

The NATO does not want to even think about the possibility of a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Alliance’s Assistant Secretary General, Tacan ?ldem told.

Asked about NATO’s possible role in case of a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, ?ldem said the Alliance stands against the use of force, Day.Az reported with reference to APA.

“Thus, we don’t even want to think about the possibility of a war between these countries. International organizations favor a peaceful solution to such problems and conflicts. NATO shares the same position as well,” he added.

Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war.

Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994 but Armenia continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal.

He noted that NATO cannot interfere in the settlement process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“The OSCE Minsk Group is engaged in the Karabakh settlement process. NATO cannot interfere in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process. The Minsk Group is responsible for the settlement process,” he said. 

The official further said that Azerbaijan is a partner of NATO, stressing that bilateral relations are developing within a certain framework. 

The OSCE Minsk Group, the activities of which have become known as the Minsk Process, works to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict for over two decades, but its activities have brought no breakthrough result so far.