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Russia’s stance on the settlement of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) conflict remains unchanged, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday, summing up the talks with his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanyan at a joint news conference.

Commenting on the question over the possibility of returning Artsakh to the negotiating table, he reiterated Russia’s support for the OSCE Minsk Group as the only format to resolve the issue, reports Panorama.am.

“We are confident this is the optimal format. We, as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing country, pursue a common interest and a consistent policy line along with our American and French partners to create conditions that would allow Baku and Yerevan to reach an agreement,” the top Russian official said.

Lavrov noted that work has been carried out for many years and has included various stages.

“At some point, by the way, Nagorno-Karabakh representatives participated in this process. Then, by the agreement of the parties, the format was changed, and now we have it as it is,” he noted.

According to the foreign minister, if the parties agree to involve Artsakh in the negotiations at any point, it will be their sovereign decision. “We shall respect that decision,” he said.

In his speech at today’s parliament session, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan restated the need to return Artsakh to the peace talks.