Existence of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict presents threats for security and stability in South Caucasus region

The existence of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict presents threats for the security and stability in the South Caucasus region, said the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Sweden Rafael Ibrahimov at the meeting with the Swedish MPs.

"Often the conflict is called as frozen, but the practice shows that the understanding of "frozen" is very precarious and volatile and the conflict tends towards ignition," said Ibragimov, a source at the Embassy told Trend News.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus 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 7 surrounding districts. 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 the peace negotiations.

The Ambassador highlighted all aspects of the conflict, including occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia, the existence of millions of army of refugees and internally displaced persons.
The diplomat has brought to the attention of the MPs that Azerbaijan's position remains unchanged: any cooperation with Armenia can not be topic of discussion unless the occupied territories are freed and Azerbaijani refugees return their homes.

Ibrahimov provided details on the economic development of Azerbaijan, on energy policy, all large-scale oil and gas projects in the Republic, transportation of energy from Azerbaijan to European markets.
The ambassador again stated that the conflict threatens the stability and functioning of energy transport corridors.

He also told MPs that not only energy projects are important for the country.
"Current we are working on the railway project Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars, said the ambassador. Construction of the railway line will increase the transportation of cargos in the region."

Azerbaijani ambassador to Sweden welcomed the Swedish-Polish East Partnership Initiative aimed at larger involvement of Azerbaijan in economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation with the European Union (EU) and also contributing to the simplification of visa regime between Azerbaijan and the EU.

Poland and Sweden have proposed a new policy with respect to the eastern neighbors. The so-called "Eastern Partnership", which will take a form of a multinational forum, will include 27 EU states, as well as Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"The main matter for me was to inform Swedish MPs of the situation with the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ibrahimov told Trend News after his speech.

"And in this sense, the meeting was very fruitful, since it was attended by people who form public opinion in Sweden."

The meeting was organized at the initiative of the Azerbaijani Embassy and supported by the representative of Sweden to the PACE Goran Lindblad.

/Trend News/