Trend, Azerbaijan
May 27 2013

CSTO FMs sign joint declaration on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement

The CSTO foreign ministers signed a declaration which reflects the
approaches to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and the
situation around the Iranian nuclear programme, Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov said after a meeting in Bishkek on Monday, RIA
Novosti news agency reported today.

“The foreign ministers signed a declaration on key international
affairs which reflects approaches to the Syrian crisis, the state of
affairs in the Iranian nuclear programme, the situation around
Afghanistan, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and other urgent
issues,” the Minister said.

He added that the task of strengthening the collective security
mechanisms and the development of peacekeeping under the collective
rapid reaction forces were considered at a joint meeting of foreign
and defence ministers and secretaries of security councils.

Lavrov added that the plan of consultations in the field of foreign
policy, security and defence for the second half of 2013 and the first
half of 2014 were also signed.

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