Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr.8
Trend:
Russia dismisses any thought that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will enter "hot phase", Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Apr.8.
The minister made the remarks during the briefing following the negotiations with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian who is on a visit to Russia.
Lavrov expressed confidence that despite the rhetoric, none of the interested parties wants to take it further.
All activities of Russia on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are aimed at finding the mutually acceptable solution in the shortest possible time, according to Lavrov.
Lavrov added that Russia will continue its efforts to create conditions for the settlement of this conflict on the mutually acceptable basis for Azerbaijan and Armenia.
"Contacts continue on a regular basis, representatives of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries often travel to the region, visit the contact line," he said.
"Presidents of the co-chairing countries pay a personal attention to finding the ways of settlement and our president made special efforts last year following which we continue the consultations about the possible steps of the practical plan," Lavrov added.
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 US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.