Armenia, Azerbaijan urged to end dispute

L'AQUILA, Italy, July 10 (UPI) -- U.S., French and Russian leaders Friday called on Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders to resolve a long-running dispute in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The joint statement by U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on conflict was issued on the final day of the Group of Eight summit in L'Aquila, Italy.

"We, the Presidents of the (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Minsk Group's co-chair countries France, the Russian Federation and the United States of America affirm our commitment to support the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan as they finalize the basic principles for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the statement said.

"We urge the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the few differences remaining between them and finalize their agreement on these basic principles, which will outline a comprehensive settlement," the document said.

Among other things, the principles call for return of territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control; an interim status for the region to provide guarantees for security and self-governance; a determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh; the right of internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their homes; and international security guarantees that include a peacekeeping operation.