Definite progress gives us hopes that the conflict will be resolved soon enough: President of Azerbaijan - UPDATED

Azerbaijan hopes volume of the Azerbaijani oil pumped via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline will be increased, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said during his business visit to Moscow, RIA Novosti reported.

"The Baku-Novorossiysk oil pipeline is functioning within a long period of time and we intend to increase volume of the Azerbaijani oil pumped via this pipeline in future," President Aliyev said at a news conference on the Russian-Azerbaijani negotiations on April 17.

The Azerbaijani president said cooperation in power engineering field is under development and Azerbaijan seriously hopes for mutually beneficial cooperation in this field.

The president spoke about cooperation in gas sector and noted that this topic is "relatively new" among those discussed recently.

"But I think we can speak about the progress in this direction, because it has taken only little time. Gazprom and the Azerbaijani state company are currently negotiating over agreement on memorandum signed recently. This fact testifies for mutual interest," the Azerbaijani president said.

Meanwhile, Ilham Aliyev noted that the country does not see any restrictions in this field.

"To diversify gas deliveries is an element of cooperation for Azerbaijan in this field, as the Azerbaijani gas is transported in the western direction at the moment. To diversify deliveries and enter new markets, of course, displays a great interest for Azerbaijan, as for other countries," the head of the state said.

The president hopes the negotiations between the companies will be fruitful.

"I hope cooperation in energy field, particularly in gas, will take place under mutually beneficial conditions and spirit of good neighboring relations. We are neighbors and there are not any transit countries between us, there is enough efficient transport infrastructure and no necessity for extra investments to construct pipelines and gas pipelines. These initial positions are all very profitable and it is necessary for the companies to reach an agreement in goodwill spirit and then cooperation in gas field between Azerbaijan and Russia will gradually become part of common cooperation between our two countries," the Azerbaijani president said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude to Russia "for attempts to align positions on the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh problem", RIA Novosti reported.

The president voiced his hope that the conflict will be resolved soon enough.

"Of course, the absence of any result cannot gladden us. However, we cannot turn a blind eye to a certain progress in the talks. This progress gives us hopes that the conflict will be resolved soon enough. Positions of the sides have become closer to a certain extent lately. Some issues which were difficult to solve earlier have been coordinated. It provides a good basis to continue talks," Aliyev said in a news conference on results of the Russia-Azerbaijan talks on April 17.

The President said there are issues that sides cannot agree upon.

Aliyev said Baku's efforts are based on constructive approach, international law and restoration of historical justice.

"Admittedly, Azerbaijan's lands have been under occupation for almost 20 years. This fact has been recognized by entire world community. We hope we will be able to advance resolution process in coming months and achieve a resolution which will meet interests of both countries, ensure restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and restoration of norms and principles in our region. It will benefit everybody. In this case we can speak of full-scale regional cooperation in the South Caucasus," Azerbaijani President said.

Russia would like to achieve maximum progress in the negotiations on the [Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict] Nagorno-Karabakh resolution, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said, the RIA Novosti reported.

"I think the regular meetings between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia are very important. Russia is ready to fulfill its mandate. We have always tried to contribute to the process. If such contacts are continued - there is not another alternative -  I'm sure that the problem can be solved merely on the basis of interests of both nations and new proposals, Medvedev said to journalists after the talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on April 17.

Medvedev did not rule out "new ideas" to appear in this respect.

"It is necessary to act in a legal platform, but not be closed from new approaches, which may infuse a fresh spirit into the situation enabling to consolidate positions. I believe it is possible," he said. .

Medvedev stressed that the Russian Federation would take its utmost to resolve the complicated, but solvable problem.

According to Russian President, the sides hear each other's arguments.

"There are prospects, and one needs to rely on international law and resolutions adopted by the UN and the OSCE. I think there is a progress. The most important is that to prevent the process from impact of complex factors. The sides must show restraint and see the prospects," Medvedev said.

Resolution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict became the major subject at the talks between Medvedev and Aliyev. Russia, as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, continues to help finding compromise options to reach agreement between Baku and Yerevan.

Presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia confirmed their adherence to a political resolution to the conflict at the trilateral meeting in Moscow in November.