Kremlin: Moscow welcomes any step towards Karabakh de-escalation

PanARMENIAN.Net - Moscow will back every effort to deescalate tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagoro Karabakh region, the Russian President's spokesman said Thursday, May 12, RIA Novosti reports.

"I have nothing to say about this report," Dmitry Peskov told journalists as he commented on a possible meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents. "Of course, Moscow will welcome any effort aimed at deescalating tensions in the conflict zone and returning to a dialogue on a political settlement."

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France, remain fully committed to mediating a lasting settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a statement published at OSCE website said.

“In light of the recent violence and the urgency of reducing tensions along the line of lontact, we believe the time has come for the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet,” the Co-chairs said.

“Our Foreign Ministers are prepared to facilitate this meeting next week in Vienna. Their main objectives will be to reinforce the ceasefire regime, and to seek agreement on confidence-building measures that would create favorable conditions for resuming negotiations on a comprehensive settlement on the basis of elements and principles under discussion.”