"Russia must play a great, if not the key role in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan thinks that Russia has been, is and will be a Caucasian state, in other words he will always be present in the region," Azeri FM Elmar Mamedyarov stated at the joint briefing with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. He said, the sides discussed the ways of Karabakh conflict settlement, at the same stressing the active position of OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair. "We welcome Russia's stance in this issue," Mamedyarov underscored.

In his part Sergey Lavrov stated that the Caucasus must remain peaceful and stable region and both sides agree in it. He said, in this respect the fact of unsolved conflicts arouses concerns.

"In connection with the Nagorno Karabakh conflict both the conflicting sides and the OSCE MG Co-Chairs work intensively. I am sure that in case if political will exists from all side, it will be possible to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. As a friend for Yerevan and Baku Moscow does everything possible to reach results on Karabakh issue," Sergey Lavrov underscored, Day.az reports.