ALIYEV, SARGSYAN TO DISCUSS KARABAKH PROBLEM IN ST. PETERSBURG: KREMLIN

Today.Az
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June 2 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents Serz Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev will
discuss solving situation around Nagorno-Karabakh in St. Petersburg
as a part of the international economic forum, RIA Novosti quoted
Russian president’s spokesperson Natalya Timakova as saying.

"This is a continuation of a process that president [Medvedev]
launched with signing of the Moscow Declaration. This is a very
important point that Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders headed to
St. Petersburg to participate at a forum. The forum enables to meet
and discuss the current situation once again," Timakova told reporters.

The resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was last discussed
at high level during Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents’ visit to
Moscow in April 2009.

"Here the fact that dialogue is continued and both sides are ready for
it and accept Russia’s mediation in this process is very important,"
the spokesperson said.

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.