Putin Hosts Azeri, Armenian Leaders For Karabakh Talks

The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have begun their trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The meeting began at Putin's summer retreat near Sochi.

Putin said both Azerbaijan and Armenia have the "good will to resolve the conflict peacefully."

News agencies quoted Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev saying the "conflict must be resolved, as it has been going on for too long."

Tensions have recently flared up again in the Nagorno-Karabakh region with fighting between Azerbaijani soldiers and pro-Armenian fighters from Karabakh. There also have been clashes between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.

Aliyev stoked international fears of escalation this week with references to war via Twitter:

At least 20 people have been killed in the recent violence.

Based on reporting from Interfax, ITAR-TASS, and Trend.az