Azerbaijan, Baku, 14 January /corr. Trend A.Ismaylova /Influential US Senator, Republican Richard Lugar, said in Baku on 14 January that currently he does not see a solution to the conflict. Answering the questions regarding the strengthening of the position of the international community in settling the conflict, Lugar replied "settling the conflict is important for the USA and I see general efforts towards it". He highlighted his optimism regarding the peaceful solution of the conflict.
In addition, Lugar touched upon the activity of the Armenian diasporas in the USA, which lobby recognition of the so-called 'Armenian genocide'. "The Armenian diasporas are more than Armenians in Armenia," he said.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 due to the Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since 1992, the Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven neighbouring districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement which ended the active hostilities. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and US) are currently the holding peaceful negotiations.