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BAKU: Russia To Assist In Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict's Settling

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  • BAKU: Russia To Assist In Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict's Settling

    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.

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