Russia urges fast confidence-building measures in Nagorno-Karabakh - Lavrov

YEREVAN, April 22. /TASS/. Russia is urging strict observance of truce and the implementation of the agreed confidence-building measures in the area of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after talks with his Armenian counterpart Edvard Nalbandian. Lavrov offered condolences to the relatives and dear ones of those who were killed in the recent outbreak of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh. "These tragic events merely confirm once again that this conflict does not have a military solution and cannot have one. It can be overcome exclusively by political and diplomatic means," he said. "At this point we believe it is an absolute priority to enforce the full and strict implementation of the 1994-1995 ceasefire agreements, which are open-ended and should be fully respected as such by all." "In the context of the agreements’ consolidation in recent years steps were coordinated through Russian mediation regarding the investigation of incidents and confidence and security building measures," Lavrov recalled. "In 2011 the OSCE drafted a road map showing the direction to move along in practical terms. We believe it is important the German presidency of the OSCE should focus on this and display its respective powers." Moscow will be taking every step to ensure Berlin should be aware of its responsibility in this field, Lavrov said. "Russia as an individual country and a member of the troika of the OSCE Minsk Group’s co-chairs will be doing its utmost to provide assistance to the parties concerned. At this point, apart from full respect for the conditions of open-ended truce we believe it is important to pay attention to the practical implementation of the confidence-building measures, security measures and measures to investigate incidents that were agreed by the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan via Russia’s mediation in 2011 and that the OSCE has sought to enforce," Lavrov said. "Further delays in translating these decisions to life would be wrong." Read more