Now is the time to demonstrate the political will in Karabakh conflict resolution, reads the statement released on Monday by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh, Bernard Fassier of France, Robert Bradtke of the U. S., and Igor Popov of the Russia.

The co-chairs traveled on July 11-18 to Moscow, Vilnius, Baku, and Yerevan. They met in Moscow with Russian FM Lavrov to discuss developments in the Minsk Group process to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In Vilnius, the co-chairs briefed OSCE Cahirperson-in-Office FM Azubalis on the peace process and steps taken since the talks in Kazan.

“In Baku and Yerevan, the co-chairs met with Presidents Aliyev and Sargsian, respectively. The co-chairs reiterated to both presidents the importance of reaching agreement on the Basic Principles [of Karabakh conflict resolution] as the framework for moving to final settlement negotiations,” reads the statement. “They emphasized that now is the time to demonstrate the political will needed to bring lasting peace, security, and reconciliation to the peoples of the region. The presidents committed to provide their reactions soon to the most recent formulations proposed for the framework document, and to continue to work with the co-chairs and the co-chair governments on the process of seeking a peaceful settlement.”

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian will leave on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to Russia.

He will visit the country at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, foreign office’s press service informed

“Russia was not going to hurt Armenian people’s feelings,” Areshev said. He stressed Erdogan’s visit to the Russian Federation has a broad agenda.

“Special emphasis will be placed on economic issues, as economic cooperation is beneficial to both states,” the expert said.

According to Areshev, geopolitical issues, including Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution and Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, will also be discussed within the framework of the visit. “However, no critical breakthrough is expected at the meetings of Russian and Turkish officials, as their decision depends on other players too,” Areshev noted.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visits Moscow on March 15. He will meet with Russian senior officials during his visit. According to some Armenian politicians, Erdogan’s visit to Moscow was planned for March 16 to mark the 90th anniversary of the Treaty of Moscow.

The only CSTO leader not to attend the summit is Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov.

Earlier, the Russian media reported that Lukashanko may boycott the summit due to strained relations between Russian and Belarus leaders.

Armenia will host informal CSTO summit on August 21-22. Five presidents will be present. Situation in Kyrgyzstan will be the key issue discussed during the summit, CSTO website says. “The Presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan will discuss situation in Kyrgyzstan and collective measures on stabilization of the situation in the country,” the statement reads.

According to the source, the return of Martuni, Martakert and Shahumyan regions was raised by the Armenian side. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs also attended the meeting and took the issue with understanding. The diplomatic sources did not rule out the issue will again be touched upon at the meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister in Almaty, on the sidelines of OSCE Informal Ministerial.

The reason for Russia’s desire to emphasize its role in the South Caucasus is Turkey’s becoming increasing active in the region recently. “Russia will never agree to share its dominant role in the region, particularly in the Karabakh conflict, with a third country,” she said.

Manvel Sargsyan, an expert for the Armenian Center for National and International Studies, stressed that Gryzlov’s statement can be considered in the context of an agreement reached between Moscow and Ankara during the recent mutual visits by the two states’ leaders.

“Over the last month, Russia’s position on Nagorno-Karabakh has been hard to explain. Many questions have arisen which have never been answered,” the expert said. RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s Brussels address to NATO to step up efforts in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process is indirect evidence Russia and Turkey consider the peace process in the context of their bilateral relations.”The reason for Serzh Sargsyan’s must have been his forecasts concerning the plans of Ankara and Moscow,” the expert said.

During his recent visit to Yerevan, Speaker of the RF State Duma Boris Gryzlov stated specific decisions concerning the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be made in the near future.

He stressed that clear steps are being made and prerequisites for decisions concerning the settlement are available. It is natural to discuss the NKR’s status during the talks, Gryzlov said. He stressed that the issue of territories controlled by the Armenian side is being discussed as well.

“Moscow does not think that the peace settlement of the conflict might depend on the results of the Nagorno Karabakh elections,” said Andrei Nesterenko, a spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry.

“Russia supports the principle of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, as well as other fundamental norms and principles of international law. As you know, we don’t recognize Nagorno Karabakh as an independent state.

“The future status of Nagorno Karabakh should be defined without the use of force, as a result of political negotiations between all parties within the framework of the Minsk process,” Nesterenko added.

The author says that Russia has so far considered Turkey a rival and traditional enemy. However, since Vladimir Putin came to power, economic interests have prevailed in Russia’s foreign policy, with geopolitical ambitions replaced by geo-economical aspirations.

According to him, Turkey’s foreign policy underwent certain changes as well. Presently, Ankara “is paying special attention to the Russia factor in its foreign policy conduct.” The countries realized that bilateral cooperation is a prerequisite for stability, particularly in the Caucasus where key issue is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. Cem Oguz notes that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is high on the agenda of President Medvedev’s visit to Turkey.

“In any strategic partnership, a common strategic vision is an essential prerequisite. For the Turkish-Russian partnership the acid test will ultimately be the Karabakh issue,” the author concludes.

According to him, the Turkish authorities will adhere to the pursued policy, and Armenia-Turkey rapprochement is possible only if the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict is settled.

“I think official Ankara will follow this same principle at the meetings with the Russian President. Turkey is a developed state both in economical and in other aspects, and it is capable of active involvement in the ongoing processes in the South Caucasus and Middle East. I do not think a third country can exert pressure on Turkey and make it change its policy,” Ahmedov said.

Before visiting Turkey, RF President Dmitry Medvedev had his article, “Russia and Turkey to continue relationships beyond goals”, published by the Turkish Zaman daily. According to him, Russia and Turkey will establish a High-Level Cooperation Council, a fundamentally new intergovernmental cooperation mechanism.

According to him, high levels of methane gas caused fears of further blasts and hindered rescue operations. The danger is posed by water levels in the deep mine, and rescue workers have forty-eight hours to reach thirteen people in two locations that are being flooded, the source says.

As reported previously, two blasts hit Russia’s largest underground coal mine before midnight Saturday.