AZERI, ITALIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS MEET IN VIENNA

Vienna, February 21 (AzerTAc). Members of Azerbaijan`s parliamentary delegation to
the OSCE PA met here, Friday, with their Italian counterparts.
Head of the delegation Bahar Muradova briefed the Italian parliamentarians on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its grave consequences. She said her country`s
position is that settlement of any conflict must be based on the principle of
sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries. Muradova underlined that
national minorities could exercise their right to self-determination within
territorial bounds of the countries they live in. She noted Armenia must honor the
UN Security Council`s resolutions on the conflict and relevant documents adopted by
the OSCE which demands unconditional withdrawal of the country`s armed forces from
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. She also added that Nagorno-Karabakh` status
could be defined after IDPs return to their homes.
Muradova pointed out that although Azerbaijan considers the OSCE Minsk group`s
mediation efforts as “important”, it would like them to be more effective.
“Azerbaijan will never cede its territory, and President Ilham Aliyev repeatedly
stated that “Azerbaijan is ready to provide Nagorno-Karabakh with the highest-level
autonomy practiced in the world,” she said.
Muradova stressed that the root cause of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not to
exercise the right to self-determination, but to occupy territories of Azerbaijan.
Head of the Italian delegation Ricardo Migliori said on the sidelines of the 8th
winter session of the OSCE PA, they wanted to exchange views with Azerbaijani and
Armenian counterparts on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He added the
meetings they held with the two countries` parliamentarians also aims to contribute
to settling the conflict by peaceful means.
Muradova, for her part, said her country supports all efforts toward establishing
peace in the region.
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