RUSSIA TO HOST ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN LEADERS FOR KARABAKH TALKS

Voice of America
Oct 29 2008

Russian officials say the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will
meet in Moscow Sunday for talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Officials said Wednesday that Russian President Dmitri Medvedev
will mediate the talks on the largely Armenian populated enclave
of Azerbaijan.

Mr. Medvedev announced plans to invite the two leaders to negotiate a
peace deal during a visit to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, last week.

He said the recent Russian military conflict with Georgia has shown
the need to settle territorial disputes through negotiation.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack says the United States
is pleased by Russia’s initiative and hopes it succeeds.

The United States has urged both Azerbaijan and Armenia to step up
efforts to end the conflict.

Ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence from
Azerbaijan in 1988, sparking a six-year war that killed 35,000
people. A 1994 cease-fire has been periodically interrupted by
firefights.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress