France attaches great importance to its relations with Azerbaijan, the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported May 1.

The message said the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov within the framework of his working visit to France met with the diplomatic adviser of French President Jacques Audibert at the Elysee Palace.

The sides exchanged views on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, France’s position on this issue as well as the current state and prospects of bilateral relations between France and Azerbaijan.

The message said that during the meeting, the French side reiterated that it attaches great importance to relations with Azerbaijan, remains committed to the negotiation process within the OSCE Minsk Group.

In turn, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister praised actions of France in this area and said that the main obstacle for peace negotiations is the presence of Armenian troops on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

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.