Azerbaijan, Baku, May 9 / Trend, E.Tariverdiyeva /
Russia has once again confirmed its intention to continue mediating mission in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin told journalists in Baku on the wreath-laying ceremony at the common grave of soldiers, killed in World War II.
According to Dorokhin, the presidential decree of Vladimir Putin "On some elements of the country's foreign policy" has an item on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in which Russia reaffirms position on the necessity of peaceful settlement.
"In this document we reaffirm our decision to continue mediating mission in the conflict," Dorokhin said.
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 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.
With regard to Gabala radar station Dorokhin said that the negotiations are underway.
"Three rounds of consultations have already passed, and we expect continuation of negotiations in the near future," Dorokhin added.
The Gabala radar station located in north-western Azerbaijan was built in Soviet times as one of the most important elements of a missile defence system of the USSR. After
Azerbaijan gained independence the radar station become the country's property and Russia continued to use it.
Previously, the Defence Ministry reported about holding negotiations with Azerbaijan to extend the lease of the Gabala radar station until 2025. The term of the lease agreement and exploitation conditions of this facility expires in December, 2012.