The OSCE Minsk Group should be the main negotiating platform in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, said Russia’s permanent representative to OSCE, ITAR-TASS reports.

“As co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as in bilateral format, we are ready to spare no effort to help the parties bring closer the long-awaited settlement,” Anvar Azimov said at the session of OSCE Permanent Council. 

Russia’s position is consistent and remains unchanged, Azimov said, adding Moscow opposes imposing external methods upon the conflicting parties.

“The Armenian and Azerbaijani sides must be responsible for the final choice of settlement option. Russia is ready to support solution to the problem that will satisfy all the parties involved. If a compromise is reached, Moscow will become a guarantor of the settlement,” he stressed.

According to him, Russia considers efficient solution should not lead to turning the region into an arena of international military-political confrontation. It must restore stability and tranquility in the Caucasus.

The Russian representative has expressed disagreement with those who questioned the effectiveness of the OSCE Minsk Group and think the process has reached a deadlock due to differences in the positions of conflicting parties.

In this regard, he recalled the results the Minsk Group achieved last year which proved to be very productive.

“Three trilateral meetings were held with the personal involvement of the Russian president. Three rounds of talks between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia were held as well,” Azimov said.

According to Azimov, during these meetings they reached understanding on the admissibility of most of the complements to draft principles proposed by the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides, while differences on some key issues were settled.