President Sargsyan talks Karabakh with Obama, UN Chief

September 30, 2015 - 12:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - President Serzh Sargsyan attended on Monday, September 28 a reception in New York, organized by U.S. President Barack Obama in honor of the heads of delegations of countries participating in the 70th session of the UN General Assembly.

The Armenian leader had a brief conversation with Obama, discussing issues of Pan-Armenian importance.

Sargsyan also met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. During the meeting, the President stressed that Armenia has always felt the UN support for the establishment of statehood.

The parties also discussed the issue of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, with Sargsyan briefing the Secretary on the current situation and problems, escalation on the line of contact due to Azerbaijan’s continuous ceasefire violations.

Ban expressed concerns about the situation in Karabakh conflict zone, stressing the OSCE Minsk Group’s role in the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

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.