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27 April 2017

By Anakhanum Hidayatova – Trend.Az

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict holds a geopolitical risk for the South Caucasus region, because from time to time there are escalations, and violence never stops, Italian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Giampaolo Cutillo told Trend Apr. 27.

This region is crucial as it connects Europe to Asia and North to South, he said, adding preserving peace in the South Caucasus means preserving better development for it.

 “This is important not only for the two countries [Azerbaijan and Armenia], but for all of us,” said Cutillo. “I wish the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will happen soon. It probably will take time, but it must be done.”

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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.