The real situation in the South Caucasus doesn’t allow for negotiation pauses and requires further consistent steps to restore long-term peace in the region, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said, TASS reports.

“The real situation in the South Caucasus doesn’t allow for pauses in negotiations. Further consistent steps are required to restore long-term peace and stability in the region, especially when the United States and France have stopped cooperation between the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs,” the diplomat said, answering a question from journalists about the preparation of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“In order to establish interstate relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the fundamental principles proposed by Baku and Yerevan’s reaction to them should become the basis for the start of the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations on a peace treaty,” she said.