RUSSIA TO HOST TALKS WITH LEADERS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

EuroNews
Aug 7 2014

06/08 19:24 CET

Leaders of arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan are expected to meet for
talks hosted by Russia as fears grow that military clashes may lead
to a resumption of one of the bloodiest post-Soviet wars.

The disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh has seen fierce fighting
since last week between Azeri government forces and ethnic Armenian
separatists.

It is described as the worst flare-up of violence in years for the
breakaway enclave that lies within Azerbaijan but has a majority
Armenian population.

Armenian snipers targeted two children, one aged 9 and the other 14.

Both children were taken to hospital for treatment.

The breakaway enclave said one of its men was killed by a soldier
from the Azeri side. That raises the number killed killed on both
sides to at least eighteen.

Azerbaijan’s relations with Armenia remain severely strained.

Nagorno-Karabakh has run its own affairs, backed by Armenia, since
a war two decades ago killed around 30,000 people.

Despite a 1994 ceasefire, international mediation has failed to secure
a permanent settlement.