BOCHAROV RUCHEY (SOCHI), August 10 (RIA Novosti) – The presidents of Azarbaijan and Armenia believe that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has dragged on and advocate a speedy solution to the issue, counting on Russia’s help, the Azeri leader said while meeting the Russian and Armenian counterparts.
“This issue requires a solution; it has dragged on for quite a long time. I hope that your personal interest in this matter will kick-start the negotiation process," Azeri President Ilham Aliyev stressed while addressing Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
"As you have just stated, there is already a format for negotiations, there is also a legal basis for the conflict settlement. The UN Security Council adopted four resolutions calling for an immediate withdrawal of Armenian occupation forces from the territories belonging to Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, more than 20 years have passed and these resolutions have never been implemented. I think that Russia, as our close friend, partner and neighbor, plays a particular role in this process. We hope that in the near future by means of negotiations, by peaceful means we will find a solution, which would comply with all the norms and principles of international law and would also be fair,” Aliyev said.
A trilateral meeting between the presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan focused on the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh started Sunday in the Bocharov Ruchey residence in Russia’s southern resort city of Sochi.
“We believe that the conflict can be resolved and the solution should be based on a compromise, on those principles that were offered by the OSCE co-chairs,” Armenian leader Serzh Sargsyan said.
“I am thankful to you for your intention to find a solution, which will take into account Armenia’s national interests,” Sargsyan added addressing Putin.
The meeting comes amid sharp ratcheting up of tensions along the contact line of Nagorno-Karabakh with Azerbaijan which led to casualties on the both sides.
According to the Defense Ministry of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, recent attacks in the past days have claimed the lives of 25 Azeri and five Armenian soldiers. The Azeri side insists it has lost 12 servicemen.
