Azerbaijan, Baku, July 13 / Trend M. Aliyev /
According to Russia, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be resolved through peaceful negotiations. Its participants must be guided by international law and relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, the Russian Federation Council said in connection with the information of Armenian media about a statement on Nagorno-Karabakh, allegedly made by Valentina Matvienko in Yerevan.
According to some Armenian media publications, the chairperson of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko made alleged remarks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. It necessary to clarify Russia's position on this issue which was voiced by the speaker at meetings with representatives of the Armenian leadership and during a conversation with journalists within an official visit of the delegation of the Federation Council in Yerevan on July 11, 2012, a statement said.
'The solution of the conflict must take into account the interests of Armenia and Azerbaijan', the statement said today. "It must be based on the observance of well-known principles - non-use of force, respect for territorial integrity, equality and the respect of people's right to self-determination. Therefore, we believe it is important for the parties to consistently bring positions together, while overcoming the accumulated deficit of trust."
The OSCE Minsk Group's active mediation efforts, as well as the trilateral format of direct talks between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia, are designed to promote this, the press service said.
"One should understand that although the mediation efforts are an important element in promoting a settlement process, there are only processes of establishing a dialogue," the Russian Federation Council said. "Armenia and Azerbaijan are responsible for concluding a peace agreement. This was highlighted in a joint statement of the leaders of Russia, France and the U.S, adopted at the G-20 summit in Los Cabos."
According to the Armenian media, Valentina Matvienko during a dinner in her honour in the 'Old Yerevan' allegedly said that everybody in the world is well aware that Karabakh will never return to Azerbaijan, but there are no politicians in Baku who can say this.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven 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.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.