Russian foreign ministry: no ‘magic’ and instantaneous solution to Karabakh conflict should be expected
25.05.2015,
12:04
The Russian foreign ministry recommends not to count on Aladdin’s lamp’ solutions in Karabakh peace process. The settlement depends on the sides to the conflict, the ministry said.
YEREVAN, May 25. /ARKA/. The Russian foreign ministry recommends not to count on Aladdin’s lamp’ solutions in Karabakh peace process. The settlement depends on the sides to the conflict, the ministry said.
Being one of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, Russia has, over the last more than twenty years, continued playing its active role in Karabakh peace process, the statement says.
“Having in mind the close geographical proximity and the shared history of our nations, it is of priority importance to us to defuse the conflict”, the press office of the Russian foreign ministry said in connection with the recent visit of Azeri foreign minister Elmar Mamediarov’s visit to Russia.
The OSCE Minsk Group can support and propose solutions, but the settlement depends on the sides to the conflict, the statement says, as cited by Novosti-Armenia.
The Karabakh conflict started in 1988 when prevailingly Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh declared withdrawal from Azerbaijan. In a referendum on December 10, 1991, 99.89% of Nagorno-Karabakh population voted for independence from Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan responded by large-scale military operations that led to loss of control not only over Nagorno-Karabakh itself, but also over seven adjoining areas. About 25-30 thousand people were killed and about a million had to leave their homes during the military operations.
A trilateral cease-fire agreement was signed on May 12, 2004, and has been followed since then. The ongoing Karabakh peace process started in 1992 under auspices of OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the USA, Russia and France. –0--
