Russia critical of examination of Karabakh conflict in UN

ITAR-TASS news agency
2 Nov 04

MOSCOW

Russia has abstained [in a vote] on including the issue of the
“Situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan” in the schedule
of the day for the UN General Assembly session.

Moscow thinks the “initiative to examine the given question in the UN
General Assembly in parallel with the OSCE can hardly have a positive
effect on the negotiation process in the Nagornyy Karabakh
settlement”, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The results of the
vote, the Foreign Ministry said, “proves the majority of the members
of the world community take a similar position”.

Russia “is interested in the quickest solution to the Karabakh issue
and will aid this in every way, whether it is on a bilateral level or
in its capacity as the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group “. Moscow
thinks that “the format of the said group means that any problem in
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict can be solved and progress can be
guaranteed in the attainment of peace”.

“The recent meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia
showed prospects for renewed negotiations to find an acceptable
solution for both sides,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The UN General Assembly came out in favour of including the issue of
the “Situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan” in the order
of the day of today’s 59th session. Forty-two delegates voted in
favour of Azerbaijan’s request, two voted against and 99 states
abstained, including Russia.