BAKU. - Positive steps may be taken in resolving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Head of the Foreign Relations Department at the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Novruz Mammadov told journalists on Tuesday.

“Given a statement made during the Russian, U.S. and French presidents’ meeting in Deauville, one can say some positive steps may be taken in resolving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” he said.

According to him, the main item that the co-chairs and international community demand is changing status quo in the region, Trend News reports.

“We also want certain regions to be liberated and refugees to be resettled. Armenia should have courage to express its attitude towards this process,” Mammadov said.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier, Presidents of Russia, France and Armenia issued a joint statement on Nagorno-Karabakh within the framework of G8 Summit, on May 26. 

“We, the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chair countries -- France, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America -- are convinced the time has arrived for all the sides to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to take a decisive step towards a peaceful settlement.”

“We reiterate that only a negotiated settlement can lead to peace, stability, and reconciliation, opening opportunities for regional development and cooperation.  The use of force created the current situation of confrontation and instability.  Its use again would only bring more suffering and devastation, and would be condemned by the international community.  We strongly urge the leaders of the sides to prepare their populations for peace, not war.”

“As a result of efforts by the parties and the Co-Chair countries at all levels, significant progress has been made.  The latest version of the Basic Principles, as discussed in Sochi on March 5, lays a just and balanced foundation for the drafting of a comprehensive peace settlement.  This document, based on the Helsinki Final Act and elements outlined in our joint declarations in L’Aquila in July 2009 and Muskoka in June 2010, provides a way for all sides to move beyond the unacceptable status quo,” they said in the statement.