Baku welcomes Russian FM’s statement on step-by-step resolution of Karabakh conflict

Azerbaijan welcomes the statement of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on step-by-step resolution of the ArmeniaAzerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmat Hajiyev made the remark on January 15, while commenting on the statement of the Russian FM made at a press conference earlier the day.

In his statement, Lavrov said that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be resolved only by its parties. The minister added that Russia, together with the U.S. and France as the three co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, is taking its utmost to create conditions for such a resolution.

“We expect that this year, some positive impulses will again come from Azerbaijan and Armenia in connection with the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Now the main thing is to take additional steps to stabilize the situation on the contact line,” Lavrov said.

This, he added, will also contribute to the transition to a political settlement: “It is impossible to resolve this issue once and for all through one document. This issue requires a phased approach.”

This step-by-step approach will show what can be done now, determine the directions where further discussions are needed on the final settlement of the conflict and the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, Lavrov added.

The phased settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict first of all envisages Armenia's withdrawal from seven occupied regions pf Azerbaijan surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh region. After Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs return to these regions and their infrastructure is restored, the status of Nagorno-Karabakh can be discussed within territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the NagornoKarabakh and surrounding districts.