Tweet
RUSSIA TO ASSIST IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT'S SETTLING
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Dec 5 2014
5 December 2014, 19:02 (GMT+04:00)
By Sara Rajabova
Following the recent escalation of tensions between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, experts are mulling over Russia's role in the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They say Moscow can play an important
role in resolution of the long-lasting conflict.
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister has assured his country will
continue rendering assistance to the sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict to resolve it.
He said the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a
long-standing and difficult process and approaches has been changed
in it.
"Together with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, for many years we have
been engaged in efforts to reach consensus over a common approach to
start negotiation on the practical implementation of fixed principles
including: respect for territorial integrity, non-use of force and
respect for the right of peoples to self-determination," Lavrov said
at a press conference in Basel, Switzerland on December 5.
The minister added that this is a very complicated process, but it
is still going on. "I'm confident that as before, we and our partners
from the U.S. and France will assist Azerbaijan and Armenia in reaching
mutually acceptable agreements," Lavrov said.
He also added that on the sidelines of the 21st OSCE Ministerial
Council the co-chairs made a joint statement reiterating their
determination to assist the sides in seeking new ways to resolve
the conflict.
"There is no military solution, and we call on the sides to refrain
from violence and work actively towards a lasting settlement," the
statement read.
Lavrov further said his country is concerned about the fate of
Azerbaijani hostages, noting that Russia takes a serious approach
to the problem and advocates the release of all the hostages on a
mutual exchange.
He recalled a statement made following the Astrakhan meeting of the
presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, according to which the
heads of Azerbaijan and Armenia undertook to create a mechanism that
will allow exchanging hostages and dead bodies, if there are killed.
Lavrov expressed hope that this statement will be taken into account
in the parties' practical steps along the frontline and in the region.
Armenian special forces killed Azerbaijani citizen Hasan Hasanov
and took hostage Shahbaz Guliyev and DilgamAsgarov in the Shaplar
village of the occupied Kelbajar region on July 11. The civilians
were visiting the graves of their relatives. The Armenians have put
on trial on October 27 the two Azerbaijanis, who were captured in
their native lands by the Armenian separatists.
The bloody war, which flared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia's
territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor, left without
home over a million of civilians of Nagorno-Karabakh and the regions
adjoining it, as well as the regions bordering with Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh.
As a result of the military aggression of Armenia, over 20,000
Azerbaijanis were killed, 4,866 are reported missing and almost
100,000 were injured, and 50,000 were disabled.
The UN Security Council has passed four resolutions on Armenian
withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been
enforced to this day.
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Dec 5 2014
5 December 2014, 19:02 (GMT+04:00)
By Sara Rajabova
Following the recent escalation of tensions between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, experts are mulling over Russia's role in the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They say Moscow can play an important
role in resolution of the long-lasting conflict.
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister has assured his country will
continue rendering assistance to the sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict to resolve it.
He said the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a
long-standing and difficult process and approaches has been changed
in it.
"Together with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, for many years we have
been engaged in efforts to reach consensus over a common approach to
start negotiation on the practical implementation of fixed principles
including: respect for territorial integrity, non-use of force and
respect for the right of peoples to self-determination," Lavrov said
at a press conference in Basel, Switzerland on December 5.
The minister added that this is a very complicated process, but it
is still going on. "I'm confident that as before, we and our partners
from the U.S. and France will assist Azerbaijan and Armenia in reaching
mutually acceptable agreements," Lavrov said.
He also added that on the sidelines of the 21st OSCE Ministerial
Council the co-chairs made a joint statement reiterating their
determination to assist the sides in seeking new ways to resolve
the conflict.
"There is no military solution, and we call on the sides to refrain
from violence and work actively towards a lasting settlement," the
statement read.
Lavrov further said his country is concerned about the fate of
Azerbaijani hostages, noting that Russia takes a serious approach
to the problem and advocates the release of all the hostages on a
mutual exchange.
He recalled a statement made following the Astrakhan meeting of the
presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, according to which the
heads of Azerbaijan and Armenia undertook to create a mechanism that
will allow exchanging hostages and dead bodies, if there are killed.
Lavrov expressed hope that this statement will be taken into account
in the parties' practical steps along the frontline and in the region.
Armenian special forces killed Azerbaijani citizen Hasan Hasanov
and took hostage Shahbaz Guliyev and DilgamAsgarov in the Shaplar
village of the occupied Kelbajar region on July 11. The civilians
were visiting the graves of their relatives. The Armenians have put
on trial on October 27 the two Azerbaijanis, who were captured in
their native lands by the Armenian separatists.
The bloody war, which flared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia's
territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor, left without
home over a million of civilians of Nagorno-Karabakh and the regions
adjoining it, as well as the regions bordering with Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh.
As a result of the military aggression of Armenia, over 20,000
Azerbaijanis were killed, 4,866 are reported missing and almost
100,000 were injured, and 50,000 were disabled.
The UN Security Council has passed four resolutions on Armenian
withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been
enforced to this day.