Azernews.Az

A Finnish lawmaker has said resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh cannot be limited to the OSCE Minsk Group format, and the international community should be more broadly involved in its settlement.

Ilkka Kanerva, head of Finland’s delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, said on a visit to Azerbaijan that the world community at large could contribute to settling the long-standing dispute given that the Minsk Group’s efforts have been fruitless.

"The conflict has persisted for 20 years, and it has been impossible to settle it. Using other communication platforms could further the negotiation process and facilitate a solution of the problem," the Finnish MP said.

Kanerva also said the world community does not fully realize the seriousness of the Karabakh conflict and should be therefore comprehensively informed about it.

The Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France, has been mediating peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia since the two South Caucasus republics signed a precarious cease-fire in 1994 following a lengthy war.

This story is published by AzerNEWS Weekly under a project funded by the Foundation for State Assistance to the Development of the Media under the President of the Azerbaijan Republic.