RUSSIA HOPES FOR PROGRESS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN 2012-2013

Trend
Aug 8 2012
Azerbaijan

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.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress