Azernews.Az

Tendencies to understanding between the sides to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict have taken shape, the chairman of the Russia's upper house of parliament, Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko, told Trend news agency on Tuesday.

"We believe that it can be solved only through political and democratic means. There is no other solution ... We believe that it is necessary to continue negotiations and dialogue, but the main thing in this negotiation process, in this dialogue is to restore confidence," Matviyenko said.

She said that to restore confidence between the two nations it is necessary to involve intellectuals and cultural figures.

Matviyenko said the Nagorno Karabakh problem is very sensitive for both countries, but it should be solved, because it has a serious impact on security in the region.

She noted that Russia's position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is well known.

"We are members of the Minsk Group as the mediators in the resolution of this issue .... The current president of the country and his predecessor made every effort to establish the negotiation process ... and Russia will continue its efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict," Matviyenko said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding regions.