BAKU: Iran Against Deployment Of Peacekeepers In Nagorno-Karabakh

IRAN AGAINST DEPLOYMENT OF PEACEKEEPERS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Trend, Azerbaijan
July 18 2014

Iran is against the deployment of foreign peacekeepers in the region,
Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia, Mohammad Reis said at a press conference
on July 18, news.am reported.

Commenting on the possible deployment of peacekeepers in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, the Iranian diplomat said Iran is
against such initiative.

He said the settlement of the issue depends on Armenia, Azerbaijan
and the OSCE Minsk Group.

“I am sure the deployment of foreign forces would jeopardize security
in the region. Striking examples are Iraq and Afghanistan,” the
ambassador said.

At the same time the ambassador noted that Iran is against any violence
in the region, and supports a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, and also believes that the military actions are unlikely
to resume.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.

The two countries 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 four U.N. Security Council resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.