“Zarif will be informed about the latest developments in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from the Azerbaijani side as well as Baku’s stance towards the issue,” Pak Ayeen said.
The ambassador went on to note that Iran launched efforts to mediate between Azerbaijan and Armenia at the beginning of the conflict, however the sides later accepted OSCE Minsk Group’s mediation.
“Iran respected their decision and withdrew from mediation meanwhile it was not optimistic about the activity of the Minsk Group,” Pak Ayeen underlined.
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 two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council`s four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
While commenting about Iran’s stance towards the conflict, Pak Ayeen said the Islamic Republic is sensitive towards the issue, and supports a peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
“Iran believes that the conflict is not in favor of the regional countries,” he underlined.
Pak Ayeen also emphasized that Iran will spare no effort for peaceful settlement of the conflict.
While responding to a question about Zarif’s meetings in Baku, the ambassador said that the official meetings will start on Feb. 16 morning. Zarif is scheduled to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Parliament Speaker Oqtay Asadov as well as Prime Minister Artur Rasizade and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
“The sides will discuss the implementation of the agreements reached earlier in various sectors in particular economic fields,” he said.
Tehran and Baku will also discuss the regional sensitive condition, Pak Ayeen said, underlining the two countries share same viewpoints towards fighting extremism and terrorism.
The ambassador further said that the sides also will negotiate about cooperation in international organizations and will discuss the efforts to find settlements for regional conflicts.
After Baku, Zarif will leave for Minsk, Belarus on Feb. 16 evening.
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