Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will discuss Nagorny Karabakh during his visit to Armenia on January 13-14, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Lavrov will meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan.

"The focus will be the exchange of views on the continuation of negotiations on a settlement in Nagorny Karabakh in the context of mediation efforts undertaken by Russia to resolve the conflict," Andrei Nesterenko said.

Bilateral cooperation and the situation in the wider Caucasus are also expected to be discussed, he said, noting that despite the recession, trade and economic, military and political, humanitarian and interregional cooperation between Russia and Armenia are developing.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh first erupted in 1988, when the region claimed independence from Azerbaijan to join Armenia.

Over 30,000 people are estimated to have died on both sides between 1988 and 1994, when a ceasefire was agreed. Nagorny Karabakh has remained in Armenian control and tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia have persisted.

The OSCE Minsk Group, comprising the United States, Russia and France, is a mediator in the conflict.

MOSCOW, January 11 (RIA Novosti)