If the hopes for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict come to zero after the meeting the presidents of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia to be held in late June in Kazan, Azerbaijan can liberate its lands from the occupation by military way, the First Vice-Speaker, Chairman of the Security and Defence Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ziyafet Askerov said on Tuesday.
"If the Karabakh conflict is not resolved peacefully, the hopes after the Kazan meeting come to zero, Azerbaijan reserves its right to liberate its lands from occupation by military means," said Askerov.
He said the international law allows it.
"Unfortunately, Armenia has so far engaged only in imitation, that is came to the talks only to stall for time," said Askerov.
According to Askerov, Armenia should understand that after such a specific Deauville statement of the presidents of co-chair countries, there is no meaning to delay the matter.
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 seven 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.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
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