Azernews.Az

A senior Azerbaijani official has said Baku ``expects much`` from Russia in settling its conflict with Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh.

``There is no other country in the world which would have stronger influence on the solution of this conflict,`` Ali Hasanov, the Presidential Administration`s head of social and political issues, told reporters. ``We are making this statement considering the approach to regional issues, the Nagorno Karabakh issue, and [Russia`s] existing influence on Armenia.

``Russia`s influence on Armenia has no matches in the world. Russia can sway this country in the desired direction and direct it to constructivism on any issue. In this sense, we expect much from Russia.``

Hasanov stressed the Russian leaders` role in facilitating a settlement to the Karabakh conflict.

``Putin and Medvedev have demonstrated efforts in this direction. We think that these efforts will be continued in the future, and this year we will see serious progress,`` he said.

The Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 over Armenia`s territorial claims. The ensuing war claimed some 30,000 lives and displaced up to a million Azerbaijanis. About 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory, including the Nagorno Karabakh region, has been occupied by Armenian armed forces since a ceasefire was signed in 1994. Peace talks, brokered by Russia, France and the U.S. through the OSCE Minsk Group, have been largely fruitless so far.

Karabakh vote
Another ``presidential election`` will be held in July in the Nagorno Karabakh region where ethnic Armenians are running a self-proclaimed republic, Kavkazskiy Uzel website reported.

Preparations to conduct the so-called election have begun. Head of the separatist regime`s election commission, Rashid Petrosyan, said both representatives of political parties and independent nominees may now submit their bids. 10 parties have been registered in Nagorno Karabakh so far.

The separatist regime in Nagorno Karabakh declared so-called independence at the time of the Soviet collapse in 1991, but it has not been recognized by the world community.

Commenting on the planned ``election``, Ali Hasanov said any ``political action`` taken by the self-proclaimed regime negatively impacts the peace-making mission to resolve the long-standing conflict.

Hasanov added that the Minsk Group`s member states unequivocally condemn holding of the illegitimate elections.