Vladimir Putin to invite Armenian president to Moscow to discuss Karabakh

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday after talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart that he intended to invite the Armenian president to Moscow for consultations on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.

According to RIA Novosti, Putin said he was optimistic about the conflict settlement. "I agree with the Azerbaijani president that despite the complexity of this issue, the two negotiating sides will be able to find a mutually acceptable solution," he said.

"Russia will do everything that depends on it for the results of the talks to be positive," the Russian leader said.

The conflict between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh, an Azerbaijani territory with a largely Armenian population, first erupted in 1988, when the region claimed independence from Azerbaijan to join Armenia.

Over 30,000 people were reported dead on both sides between 1988 and 1994, and over 100 others died after a ceasefire was concluded in 1994, leaving Nagorno-Karabakh in Armenian hands, but tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia have persisted.