The issue of settlement in Karabakh should be discussed with Turkey, too; such are the realities of the region, said Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council—and former President and PM of Russia.

"Turkey is our neighbor and a very important partner and a very close country for Azerbaijan; this factor cannot be ignored," he said in an interview with Russian journalists, answering a question about Turkey's role in the Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)] peace process, RIA Novosti reported.

According to him, Moscow and Ankara have built an effective dialogue, the presidents of the two countries are constantly communicating on this issue, and a decision has been made to set up a special joint center—attended by Turkish and Russian officials—to monitor the ceasefire in the Karabakh conflict zone.

As reported earlier, this center opened on January 30 in Kiyamaddinli, Azerbaijan.

"And this is also an element of general stabilization. But I would not consider it an element of any long-term policy, or build one of the secret theories here. We just have to take into account the realities that exist in our region. And the reality is that today this issue should be discussed with our Turkish counterparts," Medvedev said.

The issue of Karabakh's status is not resolved, but it cannot be discussed now; it is better to move it to the future, added the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council.