Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has said he wants students from Azerbaijan to study at an international school that opened in the Armenian town of Dilijan.

“I will say something that many people may find quite strange,” Sargsyan said at the opening of the school on October 11. “I want Azerbaijani students too to study at this school. I am confident that the day will come, and I want that to happen as quickly as possible.”

Backed by Russia, Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan in a war after the Soviet breakup in 1991.

Large-scale hostilities ended with a ceasefire three years later but no peace agreement has been signed.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly warned that it reserves the right to use military force to regain control of its internationally-recognized territory should peace efforts mediated by the US, Russia and France fail.

More than 20 soldiers were confirmed killed in August as skirmishes turned deadliest in the past 20 years.

Bakudaily.Az