Germany Ready to Assist Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Resolution

YEREVAN (Sputnik) – Germany is ready to contribute to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, German President Joachim Gauck said on Wednesday in a congratulatory message sent to his counterpart, Serzh Sargsyan, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence.

"The settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is of paramount importance to your country. As the presiding country of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE], Germany is willing to contribute to the speedy and peaceful resolution of conflict," the German president said, as cited by Yerevan-based newspaper Aravot.

Joachim Gauck also noted that Berlin intended to support Armenia as a partner nation and encouraged the state’s will to continue political and economic convergence with the European Union.

Azerbaijan's Armenian-dominated breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh proclaimed its independence in 1991. After the military conflict ended in 1994, Azerbaijan lost control over the region.

Violence erupted in Nagorno-Karabakh on April 2, and led to multiple casualties. The parties to the conflict signed a Russian-brokered ceasefire on April 5, but mutual accusations have not stopped so far.

The Minsk Group of OSCE has been attempting to resolve the conflict since 1992. Azerbaijan insists on maintaining its territorial integrity, while Armenia defends the interests of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.