ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 26 2007

Armenia makes progress in Karabakh conflict settlement

YEREVAN, December 26. /ARKA/. Armenia has made diplomatic progress in
the Karabakh conflict settlement, said RA Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian.

Taking into account the content of negotiations and the attitude of
international experts to the issue, Armenia has made serious
achievements in the Karabakh conflict settlement, according to the
Minister.

He stated that Armenia will maintain the policy of the Karabakh
conflict settlement. Moreover, Oskanian believes Armenia pursues an
effective foreign policy.

The Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Nagorno 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 independence from Azerbaijan.

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

On May 12, 1994 after the signing of the Bishkek cease-fire
agreement, the military operations were stopped.

Since 1992, negotiations over the peaceful settlement of the conflict
have been carried out within the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the
USA, Russia and France. Z. Sh. -0–