Russia interested in resolution of conflicts in S Caucasus

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2004

On Thursday Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Nikolay Ryabov held
a news conference on completion of his diplomatic mission in
Azerbaijan. Ryabov said his country is interested in a resolution
of conflicts in South Caucasus region. “Russia would benefit both
politically

and economically if the conflicts in South Caucasus are resolved
as soon as possible. It is absurd to believe that it is interested
in the ongoing conflicts.” The ambassador stated that the recent
developments in North and South Caucasus prove the need for taking
new steps and well-considered ideas to settle regional conflicts.
“The course of developments shows that ignoring these processes could
be disastrous”, he said.

Touching upon the Upper Garabagh conflict, Ryabov stated that
there is sufficient potential for further talks to be held by the
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Astana, Kazakhstan on the
initiative of Russian President Putin. Ryabov stressed Azerbaijan’s
moral and financial support to the victims of the recent terrorist
act in North Osetia. “We highly appreciate the support by the
government of Azerbaijan, the delivery of 7.5 tons of the needed
medicine to the victims, considering there are hundreds of thousands
unsettled refugees in Azerbaijan. The ambassador also said that a
number of problems between Russia and Azerbaijan have been resolved.
“However, this does not mean that the current relations between our
countries are cloudless, although we are close, both from political
and ethnic standpoints.” The new Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan has
not been announced yet. Initially, the position was to be assumed by
the governor of Russia’s Astrakhan region Anatoliy Guzhvin, who has
passed away. Ryabov has been reassigned to Kishinyov, Moldova.