Peter Semneby

'Russia plays a key role in resolving conflicts in the Caucasus. With regard to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, we hope that Russia will continue to play an active and constructive role',  Semneby told reporters in Baku.

'Russia as the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and President Medvedev personally play an important role in resolving the conflict. And Russia’s constructive participation in the process is important', he added.

Meanwhile, the OSCE Minsk Group  will launch a visit to the region of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on Monday. Co-Chair of the Minsk Group from France Bernard Fassier is already in Baku. The two other co-chairs from the U.S. and Russia are expected to arrive in the evening.

Upon completion of the talks in Baku and before the meetings in Yerevan, the mediators accompanied by the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk will become familiar with the situation at the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian forces, where tensions have recently grown.

Discussions of the situation in anticipation of the upcoming November 7 elections in Azerbaijan are also a main topic of the negotiations with EU Special Representative for South Caucasus Peter Semneby to start in Baku on Monday, Semneby himself told reporters.

'This is my next visit. I would like to discuss preparation for the upcoming elections with authorities and political powers',  he said.

The EU representative noted that very important stage of the electoral process is currently underway.

'In addition, I want to discuss several issues related to media, as well as the start of negotiations between Azerbaijan and the EU on the association agreement', added Semneby.

Interfax-Azerbaijan