Kerry, Lavrov lobby restoring calm between parties to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
By Gunay Camal
Moscow and Washington stressed a need to continue efforts to restore calm between the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The issue was mulled during a telephone conversation between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Spokesman of the U.S. State Department John Kirby said during a briefing.
"They also spoke about Nagorno-Karabakh and the conflict there and the need to continue trying to restore a better sense of calm between the sides," he said.
Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions.
The OSCE Minsk Group, representing the U.S., Russia and France, acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, proceeding talks based on the renewed Madrid principles.
The Minsk Group could not arrange for a meaningful pathway forward to end the conflict and start moving toward the end of the occupation. The very attitude ruined confidence in success of the mediators.
The co-chairs together with the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, traveled to the regions shortly after the April hostilities provoked by the Armenian side.
Following the talks with Azerbaijan’s officials, the co-chairs noted that the negotiations over the Nagorno-Karabakh problem should become intensive and decisive step should be taken towards a peaceful settlement. Baku once again showed its commitment to the negotiation process.
However, Armenian President recently openly voiced his disregard to holding negotiations thus demonstrating his unwillingness to return back to the negotiating table.
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