NAGORNO-KARABAKH MUST BE RESOLVED IN OLD FORMAT: RUSSIAN FM

Trend
Nov 17 2009
Azerbaijan

Conflicts addressed by the OSCE should be resolved in the previously
agreed upon format, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in
response to a question posed by Trend News during a news conference
in Moscow today.

"These conflicts, such as Nagorno-Karabakh, Transdniester and Kosovo
should be resolved in the previously adopted format," he said.

"Kazakhstan as the organization’s chairman will take a responsible
approach to this problem."

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.