Official Kyiv in no hurry to assume mediation in Karabakh settlement

July 14, 2011 - 19:58 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Contrary to Ukrainian media reports, official Kyiv is in no hurry to assume mediation in Karabakh conflict settlement.

In early July, after Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's visit to Kyiv, Ukrainian media reports suggested that the country's foreign ministry, as instructed by President Yanukovych, plans to intensify activities in Transcaucasia, by assigning a diplomatic delegation to Yerevan, Stapanakert and Baku to clarify the possibility for Ukraine to participate in Karabakh settlement.

However, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry refrained from confirming the information to PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent.

As Victor Yanukovych said at July 1 joint news conference with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Kyiv, Ukraine is interested in rapid settlement of the conflict.

“As a country to take over the OSCE chairmanship in 2013, Ukraine will take its best efforts to promote peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict,” Yanukovych said.

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.