Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is among Russian foreign policy priorities – Zakharova
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are currently making preparations for the next summit on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Spokeswoman of Russia’s Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova announced during a weekly briefing on Thursday, the official website of the ministry reports.
In Ms. Zakharova’s words, to this end, the Co-Chairs held talks with the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Brussels in July.
“Consultations will continue on the sidelines of the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly in New York in the second half of September. A corresponding statement will be issued as a result,” she noted.
Commenting on the situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process, Maria Zakharova highlighted that Russia has always supported measures to reduce tension in the conflict zone.
“The Co-Chairs have repeatedly talked about the need for specific steps in this regard and this was also stated at the Vienna (May 2016) and St. Petersburg (June 2016) summits. At the same time, the implementation of measures proposed by mediators hinges on the good will of the parties to the conflict. For our part, we are doing all we can to stabilize the situation and create conditions for continuing the negotiating process to bring about a [political] settlement. This approach prevailed at a meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Moscow in April,” the Russian official said.
“Russia devotes special attention to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. It is among our foreign policy priorities and is mentioned in Russia’s Foreign Policy Concept,” Maria Zakharova concluded.