As the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing country, France is ready to do everything possible for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, French President Francois Hollande said following talks with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan, news.am. website reported on May 13.
He reminded the audience that 20 years have passed since the signing of the armistice, but this is not a settlement.
"The conflict continues," the president said. "It claimed thousands of lives. It is necessary to find its real solution. France is ready to receive both the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to find ways to strengthen confidence-building measures."
President Hollande said that France is also ready to assist Armenia in developing relations with the EU.
"A differentiated approach to Armenia is required for the EU to manage to participate in certain programs in Armenia," 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 U.S. are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
edited by CN