Russia, Moscow, 9 October / Trend corr. R.Agayev / The upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be an important event in the country, causing little pause in solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It will be continued with consultations, where Russia is prepared to take an active part, Andrey Nesterenko, an official of the Russian Foreign Ministry told Trend in Moscow on 9 October.
"I believe that escalation is not taking place with situation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Consultations are held with all interested sides and Russia participates in the process within its powers," Nesterenko said.
According to Nesterenko, an international experience shows that it is necessary to keep patience in such a situation.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and Nagorno-Karabakh's seven surrounding regions. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The sides are still holding peace negotiations. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by Russia, France and the United States is the intermediary in peace settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The correspondent can be contacted at [email protected]