Baku, Azerbaijan, July 16
Trend:
US Secretary of State John Kerry thanked Russia for its steps for Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s settlement, RIA Novosti reported July 16.
After talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kerry said he was grateful to President Vladimir Putin for his leadership role.
Kerry reminded that just last month, Putin met with the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
He said avoiding a new outbreak of violence is in the interest of everyone.
Kerry added that with the the Russian, American and French support, there is a potential for progress in the conflict’s settlement.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.