Lithuania confirms non-recognition of "parliamentary elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh

BAKU. May 26. KAZINFORM Lithuania's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stated in Vilnius on the non-recognition of the so-called "parliamentary elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh, and shared the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton's position over the issue, the Lithuanian embassy in Azerbaijan reported, Kazinform refers to Trend News.

Earlier High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Catherine Ashton stated that the European Union does not recognise the constitutional and legal framework within which the "parliamentary elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh was held.

The separatist regime held unlawful "parliamentary elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh May 23. Many international organizations, including the EU, UN, OSCE stated about the non-recognition of these elections.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations, Kazinform cites Trend News. See www.en.trend.az for full version.