Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev discussed "the situation around Karabakh and matters of unblocking roads" with Igor Khovaev, the Russian foreign minister’s special representative for assisting the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the latter’s media reported, citing the Azerbaijani president's website.

They conferred about the situation in the region, as well as the matter of opening of the Aghdam-Stepanakert and Lachin-Stepanakert roads.

"Aliyev emphasized that the representatives of the Armenian population of Karabakh were invited to [capital] Baku and other cities of the country to discuss the issues of reintegration, but they refused it. Igor Khovaev noted that Russia will make efforts aimed at the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and ensuring strong peace in the region," the Azerbaijani media added.