ITAR-TASS, Russia
Friday
Merkel hopeful parties to Nagorno-Karabakh issue ready to search for solution
BERLIN February 1
Resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh issue requires much time and both parties to the conflict must be ready to search for a solution, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a joint press conference with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday.
BERLIN, February 1. /TASS/. Resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh issue requires much time and both parties to the conflict must be ready to search for a solution, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a joint press conference with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday.
"There is no way that only one party shows goodwill, it should come from both parties," Merkel said. "I think there is a long road ahead. We believe that the Minsk process should continue and the OSCE should have opportunities to use its tools," she added.
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
The highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh (or Mountainous Karabakh) is a mostly Armenian-populated enclave inside Azerbaijan’s territory. It is a self-proclaimed independent republic, not recognized by any of the United Nations member states
In 1988, hostilities broke out there between the forces reporting to the Baku government and Armenian residents. In 1994, a ceasefire was reached but relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia has remained strained ever since.
Azerbaijan insists that its territorial integrity be restored and refugees return to Nagorno-Karabakh, which will create conditions for talks on the region’s status. Baku is ready to grant autonomy to the region but is unwilling to hold direct talks with Nagorno-Karabakh. At the same time, Armenia strongly opposes the region’s reunification with Azerbaijan and says that its right to self-determination should be considered.
Russia, France and the United States co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group, which seeks to broker an end to the conflict. The Group also includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, as well as Belarus, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland and Turkey.
