Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the Azerbaijani leadership demonstrates serious commitment to resume and continue negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. The statement was made following the foreign minister's meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, which were held yesterday in Baku, the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza reported.
"Yesterday, we had a very detailed, lengthy conversation with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. His sincere intention to resume negotiations in order to find constructive solutions was evident," the Russian foreign minister said.
"Russia as a close partner of Azerbaijan and Armenia and as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group will do its best to create conditions for reaching a compromise. We will strive to find creative ideas to help forming the basis for a settlement," the minister stressed.
In this regard, the Russian top diplomat recalled the dialogue of the parties on this topic. "The presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia met on the sidelines of the EEU and the CIS events in St. Petersburg, there was also a meeting of the two foreign ministers on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Milan," he said.
"It is clear that it took place on the eve of Armenia's parliamentary elections. Now when it's over, the Armenian government is to be formed. After that, I think the Armenian side will be ready to resume the negotiation process with the Azerbaijani co-chairs," the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed hope.
The 39th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation member-states was held in Baku under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan. The meeting was attended by the delegations headed by senior officials of the BSEC member-states. Among the main priorities of Azerbaijan’s chairmanship are to render efficient, reliable and safe transport and transit services as part of BSEC, increase the export potential of agriculture and further develop the tourism sector.
