Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug.8 / Trend /
Russia hopes for progress in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2012-2013.
"It is extremely difficult, complicated theme that has its roots and its history. Efforts to resolve the Karabakh conflict, as before, should be focus of the OSCE Minsk Group," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said in an interview with radio station "Voice of Russia".
"Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are our close partners in the CIS. We value our relationship with Yerevan and Baku, and we fairly and honestly do everything possible to bring closer both parties' positions on Nagorno-Karabakh," he said.
According to Karasin, there is Minsk Group, which consists of co-chairs and representatives of France, the United States, Russia, the OSCE representatives, who work very honestly, visit the region, meet with Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders, and help them to find acceptable formulation for future documents.
"We fully support this activity and hope that it will soon lead to concrete results," he said.
Russian Foreign Ministry's official representative expressed his hope for progress in resolving this problem in 2012-2013.
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.