TODAY.AZ / Politics

Baku, Moscow highlights need for Nagorno-Karabakh settlement

25 May 2015 [16:07] - TODAY.AZ

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijani foreign policy head considers that the long-standing Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has already become overripe and needs resolving.

Elmar Mammadyarov made the remarks at a press conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on May 25, according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

The ministers widely discussed recent developments in view of the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which emerged in the late 1980s following Armenia’s illegal territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Mammadyarov said very important discussions on this issue were underway for two days.

Noting that he shares the optimism expressed by Lavrov on the matter, he said, “We discussed in details, piece by piece, the opportunities for a progress in this conflict.”

Lavrov shared the same position with Mammadyarov, noting that no one denies that the conflict has been protracted for too long.

“All agree that there is a real basis for reaching agreements, the matter here rests only in translating this understanding into language of agreements,” he said.

He added that they also discussed the settlement of the issue on May 24 – on the first day of Mammadyarov’s Moscow visit.

“Yesterday, for a few hours we discussed in great details the approaches to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Lavrov said, adding, “The parties have all the groundworks, the co-chairs were taking into account the parties’ proposals, and I look at the negotiation process with increasing optimism.”

Lavrov reiterated Russia’s stance on the resolution of the problem, noting Russia will continue its assistance in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

He further noted that assistance in the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is one of the priorities of Russia’s foreign policy, Russia 24 TV channel reported.

“Russia will actively continue assisting in finding mutually acceptable agreements on the conflict both through bilateral channels and the OSCE Minsk Group in which Russia is a co-chairing country,” said Lavrov.

Moscow, Baku enjoy active dialogue

The ministers during the talks in Moscow also noted that an active dialogue at the highest level exist between the two countries, which allows solving “every single issue” of bilateral cooperation.

“We appreciate the opportunity to hold talks as part of your official visit. We have goals clearly defined by our leaders. Russia and Azerbaijan presidents meet regularly and both always have a constructive dialogue that allows for the creation of conditions for the settlement of all issues, without exception,” Lavrov said.

He stressed that the strategic partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan is important both in terms of bilateral cooperation and stability in the South Caucasus.

Lavrov said the economic relations between the two countries are developing, noting that the trade turnover has reached its historic high increasing by 12 percent compared to 2014.

“Positive dynamics are being observed this year as well,” he added.

Many Russian regions have relations with Azerbaijan, said Lavrov adding that preparations for the sixth Russian-Azerbaijani forum in Yekaterinburg are underway.

Mammadyarov, for his part, said he intends to discuss all aspects of bilateral cooperation.

He also recalled that, as it is expected, Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the opening ceremony of the European Games in Baku on June 12.

“During the visit it is planned officials will discuss concrete issues of the topical agenda,” noting that the bilateral relations stand at the highest level and are developing fruitfully, the trade is growing, and the cooperation within international organizations is underway.

Mammadyarov and Lavrov have also signed a plan for consultations between foreign ministries of the two countries for 2015-2016.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia in January-April 2015 totaled $648.58 million, or 11.04 percent more than in the same period of 2014, according to Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee.

This is while $103.1 million accounted for the export of Azerbaijani products to Russia during the mentioned period.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/140974.html

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