The next round of negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, at the level of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents with Russia’s mediation, may be held this summer, Popov said.

He said the Armenia- Azerbaijan negotiations in the format of “2 +1” are useful and should be continued in the future.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

Meeting of foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan is planned before the end of April – Co-GM.