19 Jul 2019 18:22

Yerevan deliberately dragging out settlement of Karabakh conflict - Azerbaijani defense minister

BAKU. July 19 (Interfax) - Armenia is deliberately dragging out the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, contrary to the OSCE Minsk Group's efforts, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov said at a meeting with U.S. Ambassador in Baku Lee Litzenberger on Friday.

"Yerevan is deliberately dragging out peace talks," the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry quoted Hasanov as saying.

Litzenberger said the U.S. recognizes Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and treats it with respect, it said.

The U.S. favors a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is also important in terms of developing and ensuring security of the South Caucasus, Litzenberger said.

Hasanov additionally highlighted the importance of developing cooperation between Baku and Washington in the military, military-technical and military-educational fields. He said the two countries are pursuing relations both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of NATO programs.

Hasanov and Litzenberger discussed aspects of regional and bilateral cooperation, security of the Caspian Sea, and strategic infrastructure facilities. They exchanged opinions on measures against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the organization of mutual visits by military education specialists, and a number of other matters.