Russian FM calls Armenia key partner in CIS

Armenia is a key partner of Russia in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Moscow welcomes Yerevan's initiatives aimed at strengthening the authority and efficiency of the regional bloc, visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

Russia will make every effort to ensure prompt adaptation of the Armenian economy in the Eurasian Economic Union, Lavrov said at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart, Edward Nalbandian.

"We also agreed to strengthen foreign policy coordination within the U.N., OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) and other formats of international cooperation," he added.

On the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous enclave with a large ethnic Armenian population that lies inside the territory of Azerbaijan, Lavrov stressed the importance of a ceasefire in the region.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh does not have a military solution and can be resolved only through diplomacy, he said.

Nagorno-Karabakh has been the subject of a long-lasting dispute between the two neighboring countries as the first conflict broke out in 1988 when the region claimed independence from Azerbaijan to join Armenia.

Peace talks have been held since 1994 when a ceasefire brokered by the OSCE Minsk Group was reached, but there have been occasional minor clashes.

Following three days of fighting, the conflicting sides agreed on a truce that came into force at noon on April 5. Endi