The Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers are to meet soon, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated at the joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, Interfax reports.

Russia has a special mission, it is not a conflicting party, but a mediator, though closely enough involved in the conflict, the Russian leader said. He stated his intention to go on working in this capacity. The Foreign Ministers hold regular meetings, and one of such meetings will be held shortly with the participation of the Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers, Medvedev said.

According to him, encouraging moves have recently been made to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The sides are holding meetings, talking to each other, certain progress has been reached on a number of issues, but it does not mean all issues have been agreed on. The Russian leader stated he has repeatedly offered his mediation to his counterparts, Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev.

Several meeting have been held in Russia, and the Russian President hopes it will go on.

Naturally, other members of the OSCE Minsk group should make their contributions, but all the issues should be discussed by the conflicting parties, Armenia and Azerbaijan, first, Medvedev said.

L.A.