KONYA, Turkey

Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-Speaking Countries has declared support for Azerbaijan over the recent Karabakh clashes.

TURKPA Secretary-General Jandos Asanov told Anadolu Agency Saturday that the body supports Azerbaijan in its dispute with Armenia over Karabakh region, which has been occupied by an Armenian militia since 1993.

"We want the Karabakh issue to be resolved through peaceful negotiations. Turkic-speaking countries support Azerbaijan," Asanov said.

"There are martyrs in the Azerbaijani army and civilians died too. I hope this conflict will be the last," he added.

He shared his observations with Azerbaijanis as well.

"As far as I saw, the people in Azerbaijan are interlocked and in full solidarity with its state and government. We, as TURKPA, are for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We want Karabakh to stay as a part of Azerbaijan," he said.

Three UN Security Council resolutions (853, 874 and 884) and UN General Assembly resolutions 19/13 and 57/298 refer to Karabakh as being part of Azerbaijan.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) also refers to the territory as under occupation of Armenian forces.

According to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, the fighting over the past week saw 271 military personnel killed, 31 Azerbaijanis and 240 Armenians.

Last Sunday, Azerbaijan announced a unilateral suspension of operations, having reclaimed land occupied by Armenian forces.

TURKPA was established on Nov. 21, 2008, according to an agreement signed by heads of parliaments of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey in Istanbul. Asanov said TURKPA aims to strengthen the political and economic security of member countries.