Lavrov: it is possible to find footholds for moving forward in Karabakk conflict settlement process

In his words, Russia has already done and now keeps doing more than whoever to find solution to this complicated problem. 

«We are working together with American and French mediators in the OSCE Minsk Group, regularly communicate with Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers and our president discusses the matter as contact with Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders,» the minister said in his interview with Sputnik, Ekho Moskvi and Govorit Moskva radio stations. 

Lavrov also added that the expected meetings in Yerevan and Moscow will make it possible to speed up the conflict settlement process. 

Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Karabakh, mainly populated by Armenians, declared its independence from Azerbaijan. 

On December 10, 1991, a few days after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a referendum took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the majority of the population (99.89%) voted for secession from Azerbaijan. 

Afterwards, large-scale military operations began. As a result, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven regions adjacent to it. 

Some 30,000 people were killed in this war and about one million people fled their homes. 

On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations. 

Since 1992, talks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group are being held over peaceful settlement of the conflict. The group is co-chaired by USA, Russia and France. ---0---