WARSAW (Itar-Tass)–Addressing the meeting of the Council of Europe in Warsaw on Monday–Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said that international attention to the Karabagh conflict may help resolve it.
"The European Union–the Council of Europe–the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe should give more attention to the problem of Nagorno-Karabagh that destabilizes the situation in the Caucasus and is an obstacle to Azerbaijan’s integration into Europe," Aliyev said. "We are for a peaceful settlement of the conflict and we fulfill all the obligations we assumed when entering the Council of Europe."
He said Azerbaijan "is ready for a compromise–for granting a high level of autonomy to Nagorno-Karabakh–and ensuring security of the citizens of the region." Baku and Yerevan–Aliyev believes–"may achieve progress regarding the territorial integrity of our country."
"We demand the restoration of the territorial integrity," Aliyev said. "In the 21st century–it is impossible for one member-country of the Council of Europe to occupy the territory of another country."
The Azeri president also noted that Baku "is heartened by the approach of the Council of Europe to the matter." Aliyev expressed his belief that it is possible to achieve a peaceful solution by the implementation of the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that was passed in January of this year.
Aliyev noted–"The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh led to large loss of life–to the occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory–and to the violation of one of the principles of the Council of Europe–human rights."