Russia, Azerbaijan to discuss Nagorno Karabakh problem

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev today starts his visit to Azerbaijan.

The Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents are set to discuss regional problems and sign an agreement on state border.

BBC reports quoting Russian President’s Aide Sergey Prikhodko that the sides will focus on the Nagorno Karabakh problem, international cooperation in the Caspian region, military-technical cooperation. Iran problem is also likely to be discussed.

It is noteworthy that discussions over the Nagorno Karabakh problem will be held in Baku just today, Artsakh Independence Day.

The Nagorno-Karabakh (armed) conflict broke out back in 1991, when, subsequent to the demand for self-determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh people, Azerbaijani authorities attempted to resolve the issue through ethnic cleansings, carried out by Soviet security forces (KGB special units) under the pretext of the implementation of the passport regime and by launching of large-scale military operations, which left thousands dead and caused considerable material damage. A cease-fire agreement was established in 1994. Negotiations on the settlement of the conflict are being conducted under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen (Russia, USA, France) and on the basis of their Madrid proposals, presented in November, 2007.

Azerbaijan has not yet implemented the 4 resolutions of the UN Security Council adopted in 1993, by continuing to provoke arms race in the region and openly violating on of the basic principles of the international law non-use of force or threat of force.