The negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict made "important progress" - co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier

The negotiations held on Sunday in Munich between Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan to resolve the Nagorny- Karabakh conflict made "important progress", but still "some difficulties" had been identified in the negotiation process. , French co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorny- Karabakh Bernard Fassier said, ITAR-TASS reported.

According to a French negotiator, co-chairmen of the Minsk Group, represented by Russia, France and the United States agreed to start preparation for the next meeting of presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The previous meeting of Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict held in October 9 during the CIS summit in Kishinev.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.