Azernews.Az

Switzerland supports the process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the mediating OSCE Minsk Group, Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter told Trend news agency during the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

The Swiss Foreign Minister expressed his attitude to the possible role that his country can play in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"It is clear that Switzerland will be able to play a more significant role during its OSCE chairmanship. In other matters, the direct role of Switzerland in the South Caucasus will be linked with the idea of ​​Russia's interests in Georgia and accordingly, Georgia's interests in Russia. We support the process in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and do not consider the creation of a new format, parallel to this process," Burkalter said.

The minister also said that security and stability in Europe and neighboring regions will be the main priorities of Switzerland in the next four years.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent 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 the 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.