It is unacceptable to interfere in the internal affairs of any country under the pretext of human rights, and that’s what currently concerns us, the First Vice-Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan Ziyafat Asgarov told reporters May 6.

He said Azerbaijan has always criticized the OSCE Minsk Group – the US, Russia and France, because there has been no progress in resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict for more than 20 years.

Azerbaijan can criticize any state, while others may criticize our country in response, but it is unacceptable to interfere in the internal affairs of another state, according to Asgarov.

The first vice-speaker went on to add that the United States are strategic partners of Azerbaijan.

“If states are equal subjects of international law, they should be honest with each other,” he said.

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.