Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has described the unresolved issue of his country's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region as a "major impediment" to regional integration.
Speaking at the opening of the First South Caucasus Forum in Baku on May 7, Aliyev said Azerbaijan wants to restore its territorial integrity and resolve the issue in accordance with international law.
Azerbaijan and Armenian have been locked in conflict over Azerbaijan’s mostly ethnic-Armenian-populated region for more than two decades.
After going to war, the sides signed a truce in 1994. Years of internationally-mediated talks have since failed to make significant progress.
Aliyev said he considers Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven Azerbaijani districts around it to be "occupied by Armenia."
He added that Baku will continue economic and political reforms in order "to be strong enough to solve the conflict."
Speaking at the opening of the First South Caucasus Forum in Baku on May 7, Aliyev said Azerbaijan wants to restore its territorial integrity and resolve the issue in accordance with international law.
Azerbaijan and Armenian have been locked in conflict over Azerbaijan’s mostly ethnic-Armenian-populated region for more than two decades.
After going to war, the sides signed a truce in 1994. Years of internationally-mediated talks have since failed to make significant progress.
Aliyev said he considers Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven Azerbaijani districts around it to be "occupied by Armenia."
He added that Baku will continue economic and political reforms in order "to be strong enough to solve the conflict."