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Trend (21 November 2017)

Proposals regarding possible expansion of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) format can be used as ‘spoilers’, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku Nov. 20.

 “I haven’t heard about any proposals to expand the format,” Lavrov said. “In this situation, as in many other conflict situations, proposals for something new can be intentionally or unintentionally used as a ‘spoiler’ for what is being done in an established format which proved acceptability for both parties.”

The Russian foreign minister noted that a complete set of steps and measures required to move the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from a dead point are on the negotiating table.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries 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 districts.

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 Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

By Leman Zeynalova – Trend.Az