Russia ready to host Armenian-Azerbaijanian meeting

A Russian Foreign Ministry statement quoted Minister Sergey Lavrov as saying, on Wednesday, that Moscow is ready to host the two foreign ministers for talks.

Lavrov said that Russia will continue to work with the two sides independently, along with other representatives of the "Minsk" group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, to mediate in the conflict between the Azerbaijani and Armenian forces, the fiercest since the mid-1990s.

The Russian position of dialogue comes as Azerbaijan announced its intention to continue its military campaign, which it described as "legitimate" in Nagorno Karabakh, after new clashes erupted in the region with Armenia, on Wednesday.

Azerbaijan and the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, which is predominantly Armenian, said that there are attacks from both sides along the line of contact, according to Reuters.

According to reports, dozens of people were killed and hundreds were injured in the fighting that began on Sunday and extended beyond the borders of the enclave, threatening an all-out war between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The fighting increases concerns about stability in the South Caucasus, a corridor for pipelines that transport oil and gas to global markets, and the possibility of luring regional powers, Russia and Turkey.

Some of Turkey's NATO allies are increasingly concerned about Ankara's position on Nagorno Karabakh, a separatist region within Azerbaijan, a close ally of Turkey, administered by Armenians but not recognized by any country as an independent republic.

Condemnation of the Turkish role

On Wednesday, Armenian Foreign Minister Zahrab Mnatsakyanian said that Turkey was sending "mercenaries and terrorists" to Azerbaijan to fight against the forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, within the raging battles in the region since last Sunday.

The Armenian Foreign Minister added in exclusive statements to "Sky News Arabia": "Turkey sends mercenaries who support Azerbaijan, and it is converting many terrorists. It is doing the same thing in the eastern Mediterranean and in the Mediterranean region. This is totally unacceptable and not welcome."

Mnatsakyanian stated that Armenia "does not have any preconditions for negotiation," adding: "Unlike Azerbaijan, which uses force and seeks military solutions."

He continued, "We must defend our lands, our people and our security ... Azerbaijan must stop any kind of attacks," noting that "Ankara is the destabilizing force that ignites tension."

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ANHA

Source: RT