Russia’s Putin offers help in settling Nagornyy Karabakh conflict

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
20 Aug 04

SOCHI

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is prepared to
act as a mediator and a guarantor in settling the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict.

“We did discuss the Karabakh problem and the discussion focused on
searching for additional opportunities for maintaining dialogue and
resolving the problem itself,” Putin said following his talks with
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan.

“There have been no breakthrough decisions, but it is important to
register the sides’ intention to look for a compromise. I formed the
impression that the Armenian and the Azeri presidents have this kind
of resolve,” Putin said.

“Like in other cases, Russia is prepared to play just one part – that
of a mediator and a guarantor, in case our input is required and the
negotiating sides express such a desire,” Putin said.

As for the overall situation in the South Caucasus, “we had to inherit
numerous conflict situations”, Putin said. “I hope that the
understanding of the need to improve relations between people living
in the region will prove stronger than ambitions, and we will be
settling these conflicts during the search for a compromise,” he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress