KARABAKH DISPUTE TO BE FOCUS OF LAVROV’S VISIT TO ARMENIA

RIA Novosti
January 11, 2010
Moscow

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will discuss Nagorny Karabakh
during his visit to Armenia on January 13-14, a Foreign Ministry
spokesman said on Monday.

Lavrov will meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan.

"The focus will be the exchange of views on the continuation of
negotiations on a settlement in Nagorny Karabakh in the context of
mediation efforts undertaken by Russia to resolve the conflict,"
Andrei Nesterenko said.

Bilateral cooperation and the situation in the wider Caucasus are
also expected to be discussed, he said, noting that despite the
recession, trade and economic, military and political, humanitarian and
interregional cooperation between Russia and Armenia are developing.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh
first erupted in 1988, when the region claimed independence from
Azerbaijan to join Armenia.

Over 30,000 people are estimated to have died on both sides between
1988 and 1994, when a ceasefire was agreed. Nagorny Karabakh has
remained in Armenian control and tensions between Azerbaijan and
Armenia have persisted.

The OSCE Minsk Group, comprising the United States, Russia and France,
is a mediator in the conflict.