Russia considers two ceasefire agreements signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 1995 and 1996 as the foundation of cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh region, Trend reports with reference to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"In the context of the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh, the Russian side insists that the 1994 agreement on the ceasefire and the agreement on the strengthening of the ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict reached in 1995 has no time limitations and continue to form the foundation of the cessation of hostilities in the conflict zone," the ministry said in a Thursday statement.
Recall, on the night of April 2 all frontier positions of Azerbaijan were exposed to heavy fire from large-caliber weapons, mortars, grenade launchers and guns. In addition, Azerbaijani settlements near the front line, densely populated by civilians, were shelled.
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% of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US, are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
