Azerbaijani Ambassador to Italy Vagif Sadigov has highlighted the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in his interview published by Intelligo News website.

He provided information on the conflict’s roots and the process of negotiations to solve the dispute.

“Some 20 percent of our territories have been occupied and more than one million Azerbaijanis were displaced from their homes.”

The Ambassador expressed regret over the fact that “the United Nations’ and other international organizations’ resolutions on the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories are still neglected”.

“Currently situation in the South Caucasus remains tense as Armenia attempts to introduce this conflict as a religious one. So another meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan with the assistance of French President Francois Hollande in Paris is of great importance,” Mr. Sadigov said.

Stressing Azerbaijan’s position on the settlement of the conflict, the Ambassador noted that the Armenian armed forces must withdraw from the occupied Azerbaijani lands. “Baku is ready to give Nagorno-Karabakh official autonomous status and sustain the region’s economic progress. However, this issue can be solved only after the Azerbaijani territories are freed and Azerbaijanis return to their homes. Azerbaijan stands for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Also it has a right to free its territories by force which is the position adjusted by the international relations as the right to self-defense,” the Ambassador added.

Magsud Dadashov

Special Correspondent