Igor Popov: Assisting to parties of Karabakh conflict is set as top priority in Russian Foreign Policy Concept

The parties of Nagorno Karabakh conflict are inclined to move forward. The Russian Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk group Igor Popov said about this in an interview with APA.az Azerbaijani news agency.

The Russian Co-Chair noted that after a long break from November 19, 2013 another meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia took place in Vienna. “They discussed a range of issues on the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The sides have decided to accelerate the process of negotiations. The main directions that require special attention have been determined. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs have been given relevant instructions, on the basis of which consultations are being carried out. Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandyan met twice in the course of which the most contentious issues were discussed,” he said.

According to Igor Popov, the negotiations have revealed that positive factors are present. “However, it is not so easy to bring closer the positions of the parties. Difficulties in the negotiation process correspond to the complexity of the conflict,” said the Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, stressing that the parties of Nagorno Karabakh conflict are inclined to move forward.

The Russian diplomat as well noted that the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and U.S. currently hold a series of separate consultations with the FMs of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The meeting with Edward Nalbandyan took place on February 22 and a meeting with Elmar Mammadyarov is planned in the near future. “If we manage to find options that will satisfy the parties, joint meetings will be resumed, first at the ministerial level, and then the issue of summit will be considered, as agreed by the presidents in Vienna. We will continue our consultations in the region,” Igor Popov said.

Commenting on the words of U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick that the mediators discussed the issue of resettlement of refugees of Armenian origin from Syria to the territory of Nagorno Karabakh with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees,Popov noted, “I agree with my American counterpart , who views the issue of Syrian refugees in a much broader context.”

The diplomat noted that the ongoing conflict in Syria has led to the emergence of more than 2 million refugees. The countries of the region granted asylum to most of them and this was reflected in the UN Security Council resolution on the humanitarian situation in Syria. “As for Nagorno-Karabakh, we have no information about the settlement of Armenian families from Syria there. It is unlikely that there were mass settlements. UN High Commissioner for Refugees office has earlier informed us in this regard,” the Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group said.

Igor Popov said that Russia is deeply committed to see peace and stability established in the neighboring region. “In order Nagorno Karabakh conflict to be resolved, refugees to return home, communications to be opened and commercial and cultural ties to develop. Therefore, Russia has played and is currently playing an active role in the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The ceasefire agreement, which stopped bloodshed, was signed 20 years ago, in May of 1994, through the direct mediation of Russia,” he said.

The Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group noted that Moscow declaration adopted in 2008 has become one of the major stages of the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “It is the first and the only document signed by Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents on the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. This document exactly reflects the intention of the parties to ensure stability in the region through the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict on the basis of International law, norms and principles. In general, about 20 meetings have been held between Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents with the direct participation of Russian authorities, “Igor Popov said.

Russian diplomat as well noted that in the course of those meetings, aside from political settlement, the questions were discussed and decisions made related to the reduction of tensions in the relationship of the parties, the exchange of prisoners and bodies of the dead servicemen, investigation of armed incidents in the zone of conflict, organization of humanitarian contacts.

“We continue making attempts towards the solution of Karabakh problem. Assisting to the parties of Karabakh conflict is set as a top priority in the foreign policy concept adopted by Russia last year. It attaches special importance to the mediation and pays serious attention to the outcomes. We are closely cooperating with other Co-Chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group. Troika is dealing with this issue on all levels. However, as our presidents have reiterated, it is up to the parties to put an end to the conflict. The most important thing is to demonstrate political will,” the Russian Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group summed up.