Hollande: France supports territorial integrity of countries

French President Francois Hollande, who is in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku as part of a regional tour, said his country “values and supports” the principle of territorial integrity.

Speaking at a press conference with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Hollande said the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region should be resolved peacefully.

“We are trying to resolve the current conflicts through talks. This is the main goal of my visit to the Caucasus,” he said, according to Trend news agency.

Hollande added that France supports a state-by-stage resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Armenia captured nearly 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally-recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts, in a war after the Soviet Union’s breakup in 1991.

Major hostilities ended with a ceasefire in 1994 though the sides have yet to sign a peace agreement.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly said it reserves the right to use military force to regain control of the territory should peace efforts fail.

Bakudaily.az