Azernews.Az

BAKU – The European Union representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby has said a settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno (Upper) Karabakh conflict is being sped up, but progress is delayed by frequent armed clashes.

"Amid tensions, any spark could cause an explosion," he told reporters in Baku, adding that clashes on the contact line of the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops should be avoided.

Semneby declined to predict whether or not the OSCE summit due December 1-2 in Astana will see progress in Karabakh settlement.

"I can’t say exactly what will happen at the Astana summit. But the ongoing substantial negotiations give us hope, and this is reassuring."

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia began in 1988 due to Armenia’s territorial claims. The two countries fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994. About 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory, including Nagorno Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, is still under the occupation of the Armenian armed forces. Peace talks, brokered by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs the United States, Russia and France, have largely accomplished no result.