Russia says does not share Turkey's stance on Karabakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - Moscow does not agree with Turkey's position on Nagorno-Karabakh, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview with Russian radio stations on Wednesday, October 14.

"We do not agree with the position voiced by Turkey, which has been expressed several times by [Azerbaijani] President [Ilham] Aliyev. There is no secret here: we cannot share the statement that there is a military solution to the conflict," Lavrov said, according to Sputnik.

Unfortunately, Lavrov added, Turkey was able to share this view and confirmed that it will support any actions that Azerbaijan takes, including military ones.

The Russian foreign policy chief said Moscow defends its stance that a peaceful settlement is not only possible, but also the only way to resolve the problem.

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.