Moscow: Karabakh conflict settlement must be based on previously agreed principles
By Rashid Shirinov
The format of the OSCE Minsk Group has full consistency regarding the continuation of efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of previously agreed principles, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on December 9.
He made the remarks at a press conference in Hamburg, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.
Earlier at the Ministerial Council in Hamburg, the foreign ministers of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries (Russia, U.S. and France) made a statement on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
They stressed commitment to settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through negotiations and expressed readiness to contribute to the meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in one of the co-chairing countries when the sides are ready.
The statement expressed confidence in the need for early negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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