Security issues in the South Caucasus, including the situation in Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh were discussed by Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and the US ambassador in Russia John Tefft, RIA Novosti agency reported Apr. 19, citing Russian Foreign Ministry's message.

The sides also exchanged views on the cooperation forms in solving the Ukrainian crisis, said the agency.

The situation in Moldova and Georgia was also touched upon during the US-initiated meeting, according to the agency.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.