Netherlands hopes Karabakh conflict to be resolved soon

He noted that the Netherlands follows the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group to resolve the conflict.

“The Minsk Group has so far failed to reach a solution to this too protracted conflict,” van der Linden told Trend, noting the large number of refugees in Azerbaijan as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

He said that the Netherlands is looking forward to the resumption of negotiations in coming months to resolve the conflict.

“Today we see optimistic views regarding the settlement of the NagornoKarabakh conflict. I hope that this will create a positive atmosphere so that Azerbaijan and Armenia together with the Minsk Group can come to a solution,” van der Linden added.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict 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 regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Until now, Armenia controls fifth part of Azerbaijan’s territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from NagornoKarabakh and surrounding regions.

Meanwhile, the OSCE Minsk Group, created in the 1990s to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, is still working on the issue. It is cochaired by France, the Russian Federation, and the United States.