Conflicting Sides in Karabakh Conflict Must Return to Negotiations

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia will play an active role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.

BAKU (Sputnik) — The conflicting sides in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must return to the negotiating table and use existing settlement mechanisms, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Friday.

"This conflict, unfortunately has been continuing since 1994, and there are mechanisms and formats, and proposals, and the group that is engaged [in solving it]….I believe that the sides need to calm down and return to the negotiating table, which was established in the last 20 years," Medvedev said after a visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia for talks with both sides of the conflict.

"Both sides agreed that the way to resolve this very complex conflict is through the negotiations and that there is no alternative to keeping the truce and transforming it to a long-term peace," Medvedev added.

Medvedev stressed that Russia will play an active role in the conflict settlement.

"We are not avoiding our share of responsibility in ensuring uninterrupted settlement process and as actively as possible participating in it," Medvedev said.