Lavrov: Moscow believes Russian military observers should be deployed in Karabakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said it would be "correct" to deploy Russian military observers on the contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh, but the final decision is up to the sides of the conflict.

"Not even peacekeepers [should be involved in the verification mechanism] now, but military observers, there would be enough of them. We believe that it would be perfectly correct if our military observers [were deployed], but the final word is up for the parties," Lavrov said Wednesday, October 14, in an interview with Sputnik, Kp.ru and radio Govorit Moskva.

According to the Russian foreign policy chief, it is also necessary to meet along the line of contact to agree on the mechanisms for verifying the ceasefire in Karabakh.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and mercenaries deployed by Ankara, launched a large-scale offensive against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27, shelling Armenian positions and civilian settlements with large caliber weapons and rocket systems. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. Foreign and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages. Although a humanitarian ceasefire was supposed to begin on October 10, Azerbaijan has renewed hostilities along the line of contact.