BAKU, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said here on Sunday that Russia is interested in finding a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and will make every effort to help achieve a settlement.
"I absolutely agree with you that we must make active efforts in this direction," said Lavrov during a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku, AZERTAC news agency reported.
Lavrov also said Russia is committed to the implementation of all agreements with Azerbaijan.
Aliyev said Azerbaijan "is extremely interested in the soonest settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
He said the meeting with Lavrov is also an opportunity to discuss issues related to the further development of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia.
The Russian delegation led by Lavrov arrived in Baku on Sunday for an official two-day visit. Reports said Lavrov will meet with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on Monday.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a bitter dispute over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh first broke out in 1988, when the region claimed independence from Azerbaijan to join Armenia.
Peace talks have been held since 1994 when a ceasefire was reached, but there have been occasional minor clashes in the past along the borders and across the volatile frontline of the Karabakh area.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group is tasked to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The OSCE Minsk Group has a co-chairmanship mechanism comprising Russian, U.S. and French co-chairs, which began operating in 1996.
