Elmar Mammadyarov: "Restoration of contacts between Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh is important"

Baku. 25 December. REPORT.AZ/ "We hope that some progress will be achieved on the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and normalization of relations between the two countries in the coming year 2019," Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told Report.

The Foreign Minister emphasized that the progress in the settlement of the conflict would open up opportunities for peace, security and stability in the region, first of all, for the durable economic development of Armenia: "In accordance with its international obligations our country is ready to ensure the security of its citizens of Armenian descent in Nagorno Karabakh and to provide them with a high level of self-government within the internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the same way it ensures the security of its citizens from other ethnic groups. The Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of our country is ready to return to their homeland and this aspect has been sounded in the recent statement of the Community. If you remember there were contacts between the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno Karabakh but these contacts were, unfortunately, terminated, as a result of the policy of the past political leadership of Armenia. You know, it is impossible to take lands and move to another place, and these two communities will have to live together as soon as the conflict is over. From this point of view, restoration of contacts between Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh is necessary and these contacts should be encouraged."