“I am absolutely sure that the people will say ‘yes’," the breakaway province's president told Russian media

The transfer was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, following a "period of silence" on Friday

Armenia and Azerbaijan report continued violations of the cease-fire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone on Sunday night (April, 11)

But "there will be no return to business as usual until Russia again respects international law," said NATO

The European Union must play an active role in diffusing the crisis rather than sitting on the sidelines, said two policy experts

He said Russia is willing to act as a mediator within the Minsk Group process

Diplomatic efforts to stabilise the military and security situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone continue on Friday. Reports from both sides in the conflict say that there were several violations of the ceasefire overnight and Armenia says that one of its soldiers was killed as a result. The co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group will hold talks with the Armenian leadership in Yerevan on Friday, whilst Russian Prime Minister Dimitri Medvedev will end his visit to Armenia and will travel to Baku for talks with the Azerbaijani leadership.

The co-Chair met the president of the self-declared Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan and will on Friday travel to Yerevan to continue their mission in the region.

Both sides in the Karabakh conflict reported cease fire violations overnight from Wednesday to Thursday 6/7 April. The military authorities of the self-declared Nagorno-Karabakh Republic said that one of their soldiers was killed in the incident. The two sides had earlier agreed to a cessation of hostilities after mediation efforts by Russia.

The Russian Foreign Minister told the Azerbaijani leader that "it is important to have the confidence to take action as soon as possible and to create the necessary prerequisites for the resumption of the political process."