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Russian FM: OSCE to continue joint active work to resolve Karabakh conflict

Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Materials 1 February 2018 14:21 (UTC +04:00)
The OSCE will continue the joint active work to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a joint press-conference with his Italian counterpart Angelino Alfano in Moscow Feb. 1
Russian FM: OSCE to continue joint active work to resolve Karabakh conflict

Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1

By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:

The OSCE will continue the joint active work to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a joint press-conference with his Italian counterpart Angelino Alfano in Moscow Feb. 1.

"After the events on the contact line in April 2016, a meeting was held between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Vienna with the participation of foreign ministers of the OSCE co-chairing countries,” he said.

“A trilateral meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia was held with the participation of the co-chairs in St. Petersburg in June 2016,” he said. “During that meeting, an agreement was reached to build confidence, add a few people – 6-7 as additional OSCE observers on the line of contact. In my opinion, presently, the sides are close to coordinate specific parameters for the implementation of this agreement. We hope that the OSCE will be able to implement it rapidly."

Lavrov stressed that any processes for resolving any conflicts must include parallel movement, synchronized comprehensive movement that would also include steps to strengthen security, steps for the political settlement.

"I hope that what the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers agreed on and what was actively supported by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will be implemented," he said.

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.

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