RUSSIA SUPPORTS OSCE’S NAGORNO-KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS: RUSSIAN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO UN
TREND
March 30 2009
Azerbaijan
Russia supports the OSCE’s Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations, Russian
Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaliy Churkin said.
"We support the OSCE negotiation process," Churkin told Trend News
on March 30.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.
"There is a definite format for the negotiations. We believe the only
means to reach an agreement is to act vigorously according to this
format," Churkin said.
Russia supports resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he added.