RUSSIAN, TURKISH DEPUTY FMS DISCUSS SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Trend
Jan 23 2012
Azerbaijan

Deputies Foreign Ministers of Russia Grigory Karasin and his Turkish
counterpart Firudin Sinirlioglu held consultations in Moscow on Monday,
the Russian Foreign Ministry said today.

A number of international and regional issues, including situation
in the South Caucasus and settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem
were discussed at the meeting. The sides also touched upon relations
of Russia and Turkey with the Central Asian countries.

Deputies foreign ministers indicated high level of the cooperation
between Russia and Turkey and noted regular and efficient ties between
the both Foreign ministries.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. -
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.