Russia to assist in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s settling
By Sara Rajabova
Following the recent escalation of tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, experts are mulling over Russia’s role in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They say Moscow can play an important role in resolution of the long-lasting conflict.
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister has assured his country will continue rendering assistance to the sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to resolve it.
He said the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a long-standing and difficult process and approaches has been changed in it.
“Together with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, for many years we have been engaged in efforts to reach consensus over a common approach to start negotiation on the practical implementation of fixed principles including: respect for territorial integrity, non-use of force and respect for the right of peoples to self-determination," Lavrov said at a press conference in Basel, Switzerland on December 5.
The minister added that this is a very complicated process, but it is still going on. “I’m confident that as before, we and our partners from the U.S. and France will assist Azerbaijan and Armenia in reaching mutually acceptable agreements,” Lavrov said.
He also added that on the sidelines of the 21st OSCE Ministerial Council the co-chairs made a joint statement reiterating their determination to assist the sides in seeking new ways to resolve the conflict.
“There is no military solution, and we call on the sides to refrain from violence and work actively towards a lasting settlement,” the statement read.
Lavrov further said his country is concerned about the fate of Azerbaijani hostages, noting that Russia takes a serious approach to the problem and advocates the release of all the hostages on a mutual exchange.
He recalled a statement made following the Astrakhan meeting of the presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, according to which the heads of Azerbaijan and Armenia undertook to create a mechanism that will allow exchanging hostages and dead bodies, if there are killed.
Lavrov expressed hope that this statement will be taken into account in the parties’ practical steps along the frontline and in the region.
Armenian special forces killed Azerbaijani citizen Hasan Hasanov and took hostage Shahbaz Guliyev and DilgamAsgarov in the Shaplar village of the occupied Kelbajar region on July 11. The civilians were visiting the graves of their relatives. The Armenians have put on trial on October 27 the two Azerbaijanis, who were captured in their native lands by the Armenian separatists.
The bloody war, which flared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia's territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor, left without home over a million of civilians of Nagorno-Karabakh and the regions adjoining it, as well as the regions bordering with Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
As a result of the military aggression of Armenia, over 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, 4,866 are reported missing and almost 100,000 were injured, and 50,000 were disabled.
The UN Security Council has passed four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day.