Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan discuss Nagorno-Karabakh

Marina Kortunova
Press TV, Moscow

Leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan sat for talks in the Russian capital Moscow to discuss the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The negotiations lasted about four hours during which Russian president Vladimir Putin called for resolving issues connected with the peacekeeping operation as well as clarification of demarcation lines, humanitarian problems and protection of cultural heritage sites.

Putin thanked Aliyev and Pashinyan for the fact that they positively perceived the active mediation actions of Russia aimed at stopping the bloodshed and stabilizing the situation.

After six weeks of deadly fighting in and around Karabakh in September, Yerevan and Baku eventually agreed on November 9 to end hostilities under a Moscow-brokered deal that secured territorial advances for Azerbaijan in Karabakh and seven surrounding districts.

The situation seems calm with the exchange of prisoners and bodies of the dead carried out smoothly.

Following the trilateral talks in the Kremlin, the parties signed a joint statement on the development of Nagorno-Karabakh. To this end, it was decided that a plan be presented in the near future by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

As part of the ceasefire, nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers have stationed along the Lachin corridor in Azerbaijan, a 60-kilometer-long route that links Khankendi to Armenia.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense by January 10, over 48 thousand refugees from Armenia returned to the region. The Russian department conducts round-the-clock monitoring of the situation and the ceasefire in the region. In addition, demining work continues.

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