The Russian MFA is of the view that the mediation attempts by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will be continued, and, apart from this, Russia – as before - will make independent efforts to help the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to achieve compromise on the basis of the approaches proposed by the Co-Chairmen. Russia’s MFA official Spokesman Maria Zakharova said the aforementioned at a briefing today.  

She reminded that on December 19, the meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan took place in Bern under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in accordance with the agreements reached earlier. In Zakharova’s words, although no breakthrough took place in the conflict settlement, the presidents had the opportunity to communicate tête-à-tête, discuss proposals on the negotiation table and ascertain the     position on controversial issues. 

According to the Russian MFA spokesman, the interest in continuing the work in the Minsk format was confirmed. “Apparently, the unsatisfactory situation on the border and the Line of Contact was considered.  The Russian side positively treats the advancement of the political dialogue on the highest level, which is aimed at the conflict settlement through exclusively peaceful political and diplomatic means,” Zakharova said.

The summit held is a certain stage in the settlement process resumed last year in Sochi and continued in Wales and Paris, she said.