Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved peacefully, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said at a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan on November 15, news.am reported.
The Latvian Foreign Minister emphasized the need to respect the declaration of OSCE and Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group.
According to him, there is some frustration at the lack of tangible progress in the conflict settlement process, but one must hope that the issue will be at the center of international attention.
Answering a question on whether Latvia can recognize the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Rinkevics said that the OSCE Minsk Group deals with this issue, and that there are principles of the Helsinki Final Act, principles of territorial integrity and the right of nations to self-determination and non-use of force or threat of force.
Latvia does not intend to interfere in this process, the minister said, adding that now is not the time to talk about recognizing the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. In his words, it will not help to resolve the difficult situation.
"At present we need to focus on negotiations," Edgars Rinkevics said.