Azernews.Az

BAKU – Azerbaijan and Armenia have "a real chance" to settle their long-standing conflict over Nagorno Karabakh, and Russia, as a mediator in the peace process, will do everything possible to avail of it, the Russian ambassador in Baku has said.

"As a result of efforts by the international community, there are now chances to reach substantial agreements," Vladimir Dorokhin told a press conference Wednesday. "I can say with clear conscience that we are not insincere when we say ‘Russia is doing everything in its power for the conflict resolution as a mediator’."

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a precarious cease-fire in 1994. Armenian armed forces have since occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno Karabakh. Peace talks brokered by US, Russian and French mediators through the OSCE Minsk Group have been largely fruitless so far.

Dorokhin said there have been "many disappointments" in talks on resolving the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in past years. However, there are good expectations from the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents to be hosted by the Russian leader in Kazan on June 25.

"This is a moment of hope," the ambassador said. "The fact that negotiations are intensifying, in itself, speaks volumes."

Dorokhin said Russia is the only Minsk Group co-chair that is holding talks on Karabakh settlement at the highest level. "And this comes as no surprise, because Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia were once part of the same country [the Soviet Union] and are the closest neighbors."