Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 21 2012
Iran condemns monument destruction in Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenians
Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 21 / Trend T. Jafarov /
Iran has condemned the destruction of mosques and historical monuments
in Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenians. This was said by the adviser of
Iranian president, the chairman of the Islamic Culture and Relations
Organisation Mohammad Bagher Hurramshad in Baku on Friday.
“Iran condemns such actions regardless of where in the world they take
place. Cultural monuments have to be treated with respect,” he said.
Speaking about the relations between the countries, Hurramshad noted
that Tehran is interested in developing cooperation with Azerbaijan,
and statements made by the country’s individuals should not be
interpreted as the official position of Iran, as well as the views of
Azerbaijani social structures are not perceived as the official
position of the country in Iran.
Hurramshad is in Baku to participate in the international conference.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven 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 peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions regarding the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.