Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is close to solution: EU high representative

"The fact that both sides were present today in Prague testifies that they cooperate and conflict resolution will be reached, but not today," Solana said to press conference after the summit.

During the EU summit Eastern Partnership in Prague, Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia held meetings in the U.S. Embassy and discussed the issue on resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Today's meeting on the highest level was the 4th meeting between Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan on resolution to Karabakh conflict. The previous meeting was held in Zurich on Jan. 28, 2009. The first meeting was held in St.Petersburg in June and second in Moscow in November 2008.

Participation of Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations in the summit in Prague is the progress, said Solana.

But today was devoted to the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 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 the peace negotiations.

/Trend News/