Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov

MOSCOW—Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov presented his president’s response to a proposal on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks drafted by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during talks Monday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

“Russia helps the countries search for a solution within the framework of the OSCE in cooperation with the United States and France,” Lavrov said, adding that the Russian side is studying Azeri President Ilham Aliyev’s response, reported Rossia 24 TV.

“The Nagorno Karabakh resolution is a priority issue for Russia. The project of Basic Principles starts from the willingness of the parties to work on the peace treaty. We continue our efforts in the context of relations with both parties and as a co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group,” the Russian Foreign Minister stated.

Mammadyarov said, that “not everything depends on Azerbaijan. We have to wait for Armenia’s response to the same proposals, but we think there is progress in the talks, and we are gradually moving to the line, where everyone will come to understand that no one benefits from the status quo.”

“We must continue the discussions on issues we have not yet agreed upon. It’s time for us to start working out a legal agreement – a peace treaty. The peace treaty will become a serious signal about entering the final stage of the talks,” said Mammadyarov who said stability in the region is important first of all for Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Medvedev’s proposal was presented to Armenia and Azerbaijan when Lavrov traveled to the region earlier this month. The contents of the Medvedev proposal have not been made public.