Serious work should be done to resume civil dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Russian President's Special Envoy for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoi believes.

"Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have become very strained in recent times, and serious work should be done to resume the civil dialogue," Shvydkoi told journalists in Baku.

He said in this regard, first of all, will of the presidents of the countries - the conflict parties - is necessary.

The future of the dialogue depends on compromises, he added.

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

/Trend/