Russia continues to keep peace in Nagorno-Karabakh

The transition of the Karabakh conflict "in the hot phase" may have the most serious consequences for whole South Caucasus region, visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said here on Thursday.

Russia is ready to continue to play a major role in the OSCE Minsk Group and to make every effort to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Medvedev said at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Hovik Abrahamyan.

He also noted that this issue was discussed in detail in the framework of extended talks with Hovik Abrahamyan and stressed that he will also discuss it with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

The Russian prime minister expressed hope that the mutual ceasefire agreement will continue to be respected by Armenia and Azerbaijian. "The settlement must engage in diplomacy rather than the military to prevent loss of life and destruction of infrastructure," he said.

The Armenian Prime Minister noted that Armenia would continue to act as the guarantor of security of Nagorno-Karabakh population. "We are interested in maintaining the ceasefire."

Source: XINHUA