Diplomatic solution not possible now

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan yesterday ruled out a diplomatic solution to the conflict with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, dealing a fresh blow to efforts by world powers to secure a sustainable truce. 

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been engaged in fierce fighting for almost a month over Karabakh, a region of Azerbaijan controlled by Armenian separatists in the wake of the break-up of the Soviet Union.

The flare-up of the conflict has left hundreds dead.

The Karabakh conflict "has not... and will not have a diplomatic solution for a long time," Pashinyan said in a video message on Facebook. He called on Armenians to volunteer for fighting on the front, acknowledging that his country faces "a difficult situation" on the battlefield.

His comments came as Russia hosted the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan for separate talks this week in a new bid to find a lasting truce.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanyan were also due to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tomorrow. However no trilateral meetings are taking place.