Russia affirms support for Azeri integrity after Garabagh ‘polls’
Moscow reiterated its support for Azerbaijan's territorial
integrity on Monday in the wake of parliamentary elections in Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh, an Azerbaijani region with a predominantly
ethnic Armenian population, Russian RIA Novosti news agency
reported.
The region, which has been a source of conflict between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan since the late 1980s, elected its 33-seat "parliament" on Sunday.
"Moscow is not convinced that the peace settlement of the conflict might depend on the results of the Nagorno Garabagh elections," a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Andrei Nesterenko, said.
Ethnic Armenians in Upper Garabagh, backed by Armenia, declared so-called independence in fighting that erupted as the Soviet Union headed towards its 1991 collapse. The war left over 30,000 people dead on both sides. The Armenians invaded Upper Garabagh and seven surrounding Azeri districts before a cease-fire was declared in 1994.
"Moscow supports the principle of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, as well as other fundamental norms and principles of international law. As you know, we don't recognize Nagorno Garabagh as an independent state," he said.
The conflict is mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group, comprising the United States, Russia and France.
"We are convinced that the future status [of Nagorno Garabagh] should be defined without the use of force, as a result of political negotiations between all parties within the framework of the Minsk process," Nesterenko said.*
The region, which has been a source of conflict between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan since the late 1980s, elected its 33-seat "parliament" on Sunday.
"Moscow is not convinced that the peace settlement of the conflict might depend on the results of the Nagorno Garabagh elections," a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Andrei Nesterenko, said.
Ethnic Armenians in Upper Garabagh, backed by Armenia, declared so-called independence in fighting that erupted as the Soviet Union headed towards its 1991 collapse. The war left over 30,000 people dead on both sides. The Armenians invaded Upper Garabagh and seven surrounding Azeri districts before a cease-fire was declared in 1994.
"Moscow supports the principle of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, as well as other fundamental norms and principles of international law. As you know, we don't recognize Nagorno Garabagh as an independent state," he said.
The conflict is mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group, comprising the United States, Russia and France.
"We are convinced that the future status [of Nagorno Garabagh] should be defined without the use of force, as a result of political negotiations between all parties within the framework of the Minsk process," Nesterenko said.*
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