Along with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen, Russia continues promoting rapprochement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict sides’ positions on the basis of principles proposed by the presidents of the three co-chairing countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the Ministerial Council meeting in Kyiv on Thursday. “Russia is considering an earlier proposed initiative on establishing a conflict prevention mechanism within the OSCE as being important.
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. /Trend/
