Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 12
Trend:
Russia will support the Italian OSCE Chairmanship’s efforts in the process of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.
This was stated by the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in response to Chairperson-in-Office, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano at the OSCE special permanent council meeting in Vienna on Jan.11.
“Instead of equitable cooperation, we see double standards and hear statements about the “exceptionalism” of individual nations and countries. All of that does not help us resolve today’s problems, but instead gives rise to more problems and conflicts, and makes us all weaker in the face of common threats, such as terrorism, illegal migration, drug and human trafficking, and organised crime”, he said.
Lukashevich further stressed that Moscow fully shares Italian Chairmanship’s commitment to maintain the OSCE’s efforts to resolve regional conflicts.
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.