Russia offers to host Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks

KATHMANDU: Russia has offered to host talks on resolving the fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenian forces in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, BBC reported

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the offer in calls to both governments, his office said – adding that he had urged a halt to “warlike rhetoric”.

More than 100 deaths have been reported since Sunday, in the deadliest fighting in years over Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Officially part of Azerbaijan, it is governed by ethnic Armenians.
Armenia and Azerbaijan – two former Soviet republics – fought a war in 1988-1994 over the region.

On Wednesday, Lavrov’s office said he had called the foreign ministers of both Armenia and Azerbaijan to say Russia was willing to host talks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the fighting with French President Emmanuel Macron in a separate telephone call. Both leaders reiterated calls by world powers for an immediate ceasefire.

Russia is part of a military alliance with Armenia and has a military base in the country. However, it also has close ties to the government of Azerbaijan.

(With inputs from Agencies)