Dmitry Medvedev arrives in Baku after his visit to Armenia

Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev has arrived in Baku where he will meet with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, TASS reports. 

Medvedev is expected to discuss with the Azerbaijani partners the situation in Nagorno Karabakh. The Russian prime minister was in Yerevan a day before where he met with President Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan. In Yerevan the Russian prime minister briefed media on Moscow's readiness to further mediate the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. 

"The most important thing which I would like to stress once again is to exclude slide of the conflict into a hot phase", Dmitry Medvedev stated  in Yerevan,  emphasizing that this may lead to the most tragic consequences for the region.  According to him, diplomats and not militants must settle Karabakh conflict.  The Russian Prime Minister expressed hope that the ceasefire regime will be observed. " We also hope that the political process will resume, as a lot of efforts have been put into it".  Medvedev also stated that Russia is ready to act as a mediator within the Minsk Group and use Russian influence in the framework of relevant procedures. "The mechanism which exists has no alternative its authorities have been set by the decisions of UN Security Council and OSCE", The Russian Prime Minister stated.  Later the same day, Medvedev discussed the situation with President Serzh Sargsyan, who presented the developments of the recent days in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone. "Having no illusions, we do expect the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and our allies to make addressed statements and take specific measures. Otherwise, a second attempt will spark a large-scale operation," Serzh Sargsyan said.  

Dmitry Medvedev suggested Serzh Sargsyan to discuss Russia's proposals concerning the measures for the conflict's settlement that can be taken within the nearest future. "The most important now is to maintain peace, return to the negotiating table," Medvedev said. "I remember perfectly our previous talks.  Maybe, part of the possibilities were not used at full then, anyway, there is no alternative to peace talks. My current visit is connected with it.  I'd like to discuss with you the things that is possible to do within the nearest future," the Russian prime minister said.