Azernews.Az

Iran and Russia discussed the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh on Friday, IRNA news agency reported.

Iranian Foreign Ministry's director of CIS and Caucasus countries department, Mohammad Reza Murshudzadeh, met with Russian Foreign Ministry's director of 3rd Department for CIS countries, Alexander Sternik, and the director of 4th department, Alexander Pavlovsky in Moscow.

Murshudzadeh arrived in Moscow upon the invitation from his Russian counterparts.

Speaking about the South Caucasus, it was noted at the meeting that the conflict can be resolved with use of Iran's capabilities, given the friendly relations it has with both sides of the conflict, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

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 Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

Among other issues, the sides discussed the regional capability to fight drug trafficking, extremism and terrorism.

The need to strengthen regional peace, security, and preserve good neighborly relations with the Central Asian and Caucasus countries, was emphasized.

The Iranian diplomat expressed hope that Iran and Russia could develop their regional cooperation within such structures as Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and those similar to it.

The Russian officials, in turn, underlined Iran's importance in the region's stability and security.

The sides discussed political and security interests in the Caucasus region, also touching on such topics as multilateral trade among regional countries, and effective regional development.