Lavrov planning to join Armenian, Azeri Presidents in May 16 meeting

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as well as the U.S. and French foreign policy chiefs are planning to participate in an upcoming meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, RIA Novosti cited a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson as saying Thursday, May 12.

“The Presidents' meeting is scheduled to take place in Vienna next week,” Maria Zakharova said.

A possible meeting between the leaders was said to be slated for May 16, with the parties set to discuss the situation in Nagorno Karabakh.

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France, remain fully committed to mediating a lasting settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a statement published at OSCE website said.

“In light of the recent violence and the urgency of reducing tensions along the line of lontact, we believe the time has come for the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet,” the Co-chairs said.

“Our Foreign Ministers are prepared to facilitate this meeting next week in Vienna. Their main objectives will be to reinforce the ceasefire regime, and to seek agreement on confidence-building measures that would create favorable conditions for resuming negotiations on a comprehensive settlement on the basis of elements and principles under discussion.”