UPDATE 1-Erdogan tells Putin that Armenia must negotiate on Nagorno-Karabakh

(Adds Kremlin statement, background)

ANKARA / MOSCOW, 7 Nov. (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Saturday that Armenia must be persuaded to negotiate the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan and called for a peaceful resolution, the Turkish presidency said.

At least 1,000 people died in nearly six weeks of fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous enclave recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan but populated and controlled by ethnic Armenians. Erdogan had previously said that Turkey and Russia could work together to resolve the conflict.

In a statement, the presidency said Erdogan told Putin in a phone call that Armenia must withdraw from the Azeri lands it is occupying and “affirmed that the Armenian leadership must be persuaded to sit down at the negotiating table.”

In a separate statement, Kremlim said Putin had informed Erdogan of his phone calls with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, adding that “these exchanges were focused on finding options for a quick cessation of hostilities and a political and diplomatic solution.”

“Mutual readiness to cooperate to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict was confirmed,” he said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also held a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the matter, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

The conflict underscored the influence of Turkey, an ally of Azerbaijan, in a former Soviet region long dominated by Moscow, which has a defense pact with Armenia. It also threatens the safety of Azerbaijani oil and gas pipelines.

Three ceasefires have failed to stop the bloodiest fighting in the South Caucasus for more than 25 years. Both sides accused each other of having launched attacks within hours of the agreements.