SOCHI. - Russian Presidential Aid Sergey Prikhodko declined to comment on the meeting between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Sochi on August 9, Izvestia newspaper reports.

The two leaders held a 4-hour meeting at Russian presidential residence in Sochi.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier, in an official part of the meeting Medvedev told the press he hoped for a “sincere” conversation on further developments in the peace process following the presidents’ meeting in Kazan and previous meetings. In his turn, Aliyev said Azerbaijan is more interested in the swift resolution of the conflict, than any other country.

Medvedev emphasized it is essential to move Karbakah peace talks from the deadlock. The Russian President received the necessary authority from the other OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries-heads of the U.S. and France at the Deaville meeting in May.

The sides were close to signing of the “road map” in Kazan on July 24, the newspaper reports citing a source at Russian MFA. “Baku and Yerevan were one step away to shake hands due to Russian President’s mediatory efforts. However, at the last moment Ilham Aliyev backpedaled and presented 10 proposals,” the source told Izvestia.

According to the source, the sticking point was the future determination of Nagorno-Karabakh’s final legal status in term of legally binding expression of will. The fate of the enclave, according to the road map of the OSCE Minsk Group, should be resolved through referendum. It is no doubt how the majority of Armenians will vote. For this reason, Baku has still questions, the newspaper reads.

However, following the two leaders’ meeting, Medvedev and Aliyev stressed “positive dynamics is observed in all directions.”