ITAR-TASS, Russia
Aug 20 2004

Putin reiterates Russia readiness to mediate in Karabakh conflict

SOCHI, August 20 (Itar-Tass) – President Vladimir Putin reiterated
Russia’s readiness to act as a mediator and guarantor in the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

“We have discussed the Karabakh problem; the discussions focused on
the search for additional opportunities to maintain dialogue and
resolve the problem,” Putin said after his talks with Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan.

“No breakthrough decisions have been made, but it’s important to note
the parties’ wish to look for a compromise,” Putin said, “it seemed
to me that both the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents have such a
mood.”

Russia, as in other cases, is ready to act only in one capacity –
that of a mediator and guarantor, if its efforts are needed and the
parties to negotiations wish it, according to the head of the Russian
state.

Speaking about the situation in southern Caucasus in general, Putin
noted that “we have inherited many conflicts.”

“Hopefully, the understanding of the necessity to establish relations
between people living in the region will prevail over ambitions, and
in the course of the search for a compromise we’ll be resolving these
conflicts,” the Russian president said.