Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan during a telephone conversation on Sunday discussed the search for a way out of the situation in the unrecognized zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the Russian Foreign Ministry reports.
"The issues related to the search for a way out of the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone were in the focus of attention," the Foreign Ministry said.
In addition, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the growing number of civilian casualties in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "The Russian side expressed concern over the increase in civilian casualties. The need for an early ceasefire was noted," the report reads.
Lavrov also confirmed Russia's readiness to assist in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "The readiness to assist the parties in returning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process to the political and diplomatic direction under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in accordance with the joint statement of the presidents of Russia, the United States and France was confirmed," the ministry said.
The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated on September 27, with battles on the line of contact. Martial law has been introduced in Azerbaijan and Armenia, and mobilization has been announced. The sides report the killed and wounded, including civilians.
Baku and Yerevan have been contesting Nagorno-Karabakh since February 1988, when the region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijani SSR. During the 1992-1994 armed conflict, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts. Since 1992, negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the conflict have been underway within the OSCE Minsk Group led by the three co-chairs - Russia, the United States and France.
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Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS