Path to restoring peace in Karabakh lies through dialogue: Duma speaker

PanARMENIAN.Net - The path to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement lies through dialogue and compromise, speaker of the lower house of Russia's State Duma told reporters Monday, April 4.

"Both sides should constantly seek peace and compromise," TASS cited Sergey Naryshkin as saying.

Naryshkin also noted that "throughout this very complicated and grave period Russia has been carrying out active work – also within the OSCE Minsk Group – sparing no effort to settle the conflict.”

"I must say that Russia, maybe even more than any other country, is interested in restoring peace in the South Caucasus," the Duma speaker said.

He reminded that the heads of the Russian Defense and Foreign Ministries have held talks with their colleagues in Azerbaijan and Armenia, while President Vladimir Putin has made a statement.

On the night of April 1-2, Azerbaijani armed forces initiated overt offensive operations in the southern, southeastern and northeastern directions of the line of contact with Nagorno Karabakh.

As many as 18 Karabakh servicemen were killed and 35-40 were wounded in the course of military operations. A civilian, 11-year-old Vaghinak Grigoryan was also killed, with 6 other civilians, including two kids, wounded.

As of April 4, the Azerbaijani side has lost 20 tanks and over 5 armored vehicles, including an IFV, as well as 2 military helicopters and 3 unmanned aerial vehicles.

One Karabakh tank has been destroyed so far.

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