Hollande pledges to promote Karabakh settlement ahead of Armenia visit

May 12, 2014 - 14:21 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - France will take every effort for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict to be solved through negotiations, French President said, according to Trend News.

Francois Hollande made the remarks in Baku on Monday, May 12 at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Hollande expressed concern over escalation of tensions and deaths in Nagorno Karabakh, with France, as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair, aiming to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan in the settlement of the conflict.

The French President also said he will visit Armenia next.

"Why? Because 20 years have passed since the ceasefire agreement on the Karabakh conflict was signed and entered into force. No major progress has been achieved throughout this period," President Hollande stressed.

As presidential press service reported, Hollande is arriving in Armenia tonight (May 12) on the invitation of his counterpart Serzh Sargsyan.

A tete-a-tete meeting, to be followed by extended-format negotiations is on the two leader’s agenda. Documents for further development of bilateral cooperation in a number of sectors will be inked, with Sargsyan and Hollande to give a joint press conference afterwards.

The two leaders will also attend the Armenian-French forum, as well as visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Tsiternakaberd.

The presidents will attend the concert of famed chansonnier Charles Aznavour at Sports and Concert Complex.

A state dinner will be held in Hollande’s honour at the presidential palace.

The presidents will participate in the opening ceremony of a park after the national hero of France and eminent poet Misak Manushyan. A visit to the construction site of the French company Carrefour's hypermarket has also been scheduled.

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The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.