AZERBAIJAN’S OPPOSITION PARTY SUPPORTS STRENGTHENING MILITARY COOPERATION WITH TURKEY
Trend
March 1 2010
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan’s opposition party supports strengthening military
cooperation with Turkey.
"Statement by Armenia that Turkey can not be a mediator in settling
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict due to the fact that it has military
relations with Azerbaijan is absolutely inappropriate," was mentioned
at a board meeting of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (DPA).
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.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the
occupied territories.
Armenia is cooperating in the military sphere with Russia and France,
implementing a mediation mission to resolve the conflict, said at
the meeting.
"Threfore, Azerbaijan should further strengthen military cooperation
with Turkey and continue all efforts to bring Turkey as a mediator
in the Minsk Group," the opposition party considers.