Russian MFA: “Consistency of negotiation process over the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict was observed in 2008”

“Despite features of domestic situation because of presidential elections in both Armenia and Azerbaijan, consistency of negotiation process over the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict was observed in 2008, said the Russian Foreign Ministry in its report on the “Foreign policy and diplomatic activity of Russian federation in 2008”, APA reports.

“For the first time, the international mediators – OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs (Russia, USA, and France) got opportunities to hold consultations with the parts in and outside the region in the electoral period. The co-chairs tried to provide direct contacts for achievement of agreement on the basic principles of the settlement. Two high-level meetings were held within a year (June 6 St Petersburg, November 2, Moscow). The Nagorno Karabakh problem was discussed in details at the meetings Dmitriy Medvedev held with Ilham Aliyev and Serj Sargsyan and these meetings strengthened the Russia’s leading role in the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. A tripartite Declaration was signed at the meeting between Aliyev and Sargsyan in Moscow on Russian president Medvedev’s invitation. This document was directed toward the political solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and it was the first document signed by the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia on the conflict”.