YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday he will host peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which appear willing to negotiate a settlement of their 20-year conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
But Medvedev's announcement also appeared to reflect a renewed Kremlin push to win a stronger influence in the energy-rich Caspian region.
Nagorno-Karabakh has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces since a six-year conflict during the waning years of the Soviet Union. Some 30,000 people were killed and about 1 million were driven from their homes before a cease-fire was reached in 1994. Sporadic clashes have continued, and international efforts to settle the conflict have failed.
Medvedev's efforts follow a recent statement by a U.S. diplomat who said the United States also would step up efforts to help settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
During a visit to Armenia, Medvedev said talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia about the complex territorial issue have reached an "advanced" stage. He added the two neighbors appear ready to "search for a solution."
Medvedev would not provide details about the negotiations or say when the Russian-hosted talks could take place.
He referred to Russia's war with Georgia in August, saying it underlined the need to settle regional conflicts through international talks.
Along with the United States and France, Russia has been part of the so-called Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe which has tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a diplomatic solution with Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Last month, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said during a visit to Azerbaijan that it was more important than ever now to resolve the dispute, pointing to the war in Georgia. Bryza promised that the United States would intensify efforts to help settle the conflict.
Russia has maintained close ties with Armenia and has a military base there, but it also recently stepped up its efforts to improve relations with energy-rich Azerbaijan.
Russia has been courting Azerbaijan by offering to buy its natural gas for shipments to Europe. If Moscow succeeds, that would strengthen its monopoly on gas shipments from the former Soviet region to Europe.
