Georgia Ready to Mediate in Armenian-Azerbaijani Row in Nagorno-Karabakh

Georgia is prepared to be a mediator between Armenia and Azerbaijan in order to settle the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, Georgian General Staff head Vakhtang Kapanadze said Monday.

TBILISI (Sputnik) — On Saturday, Armenia and Azerbaijan noted a sharp escalation of the situation in the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh area, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire that has been in place since 1994.

“If there is a possibility, then yes, Georgia must take upon itself the role of moderator. We are one of the countries that is on good terms with both countries,” Kapanadze told journalists.

Kapanadze expressed hope that the armed conflict would soon cease in the conflict zone, adding that Georgia is closely following the situation and “has close contact with both Armenian and Azerbaijani colleagues.”

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988, when the Armenian-dominated autonomous region sought to secede from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, before proclaiming independence after the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. In September 2015, the conflict escalated, with the sides blaming each other for violating the truce.