NATO’s involvement in Karabakh settlement “undesirable” – Russian official

Ekspress, Baku
3 Dec 04

The press secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Aleksandr
Yakovenko, has said that NATO’s involvement in the Karabakh conflict
settlement is “undesirable”. In his exclusive interview with the
Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress, Yakovenko said that Russia is not
concerned about NATO’s intervention in the issue as it will “have no
impact” on the settlement of the problem. It is naive to think that
the occupied lands of Azerbaijan will be liberated with the support of
NATO, he said. At the same time, he pointed out that the Russian
government recognizes that the Azerbaijani lands are under occupation
and supports Baku’s position on the issue. The following is the text
of Alakbar Raufoglu’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on 3
December headlined “Russia recognizes that Karabakh is under
occupation” and subheaded “The press secretary of the Russian Foreign
Ministry, Aleksandr Yakovenko: ‘It is naive to think that the lands
will be returned with the support of NATO'”. Subheadings as published:

Russia is not concerned about NATO’s intervention in the Karabakh
settlement, but at the same time, it considers that this “will have no
impact on the settlement”, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official
spokesman, Aleksandr Yakovenko, told Ekspress in an exclusive
interview yesterday.

“It would be naive to think that any state will secure its right as a
winner or return its lands with the support of NATO,” Yakovenko said,
commenting on statements by Azerbaijani officials that NATO’s
intervention in the settlement process is necessary.

Moscow thinks that the current peace process “needs no changes that
would prevent the dialogue”. NATO’s involvement in the issue is simply
“undesirable”.

To recap, Azerbaijan called on the alliance to intervene in the
settlement during NATO’s Rose-Roth seminar in Baku last week.

“Russia has repeatedly stated that NATO’s intervention might divert
attention from the settlement of the problem,” Yakovenko said. He
called on Baku “to assess the situation correctly”.

Moscow evaluates Azerbaijan’s cooperation with NATO as “the country’s
internal affair”. At the same time, Russia cannot be indifferent to
the coming of a third power to the region.

“It is necessary to take only conscious, purposeful and well
thought-out steps and make decisions that will prevent tension.”

Moscow is impartial and upbeat

Yakovenko said that Moscow had always taken an active part in the
Karabakh settlement. “We are impartial and upbeat. The Russian people
and government admit that Azerbaijani lands are under occupation and
support Baku’s position on the settlement of the
problem. Unfortunately, Moscow’s steps have been fruitless so
far. Despite this, we are continuing our efforts,” he said.

Russia is currently “closely investigating” the peace talks and
keeping the discussions between the [Armenian and Azerbaijani] foreign
ministers in focus. The activity of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen
is coordinated with the Russian Foreign Ministry as well. Yakovenko
said that an agreement to increase Russia’s efforts was reached during
the Astana meeting of the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian presidents
this September. Therefore, Russia intends to take steps “at the
highest level” in connection with the issue.

“The point is about preserving and supporting the dialogue between the
countries,” the diplomat stressed.

There is no “Putin formula”

However, the reports that Russia has put forward some proposals on the
resolution of the conflict have not justified themselves. Yakovenko
said that at present, this is simply a version and is not based on any
official source.

To recap, after the Astana meeting, the Russian media circulated
reports that Putin has come up with a specific package of proposals on
the Karabakh problem – the Putin formula.

“There is no such formula. If this was the case, then it would have
been announced long ago,” the diplomat said.

The opinions about Russia’s intention to deploy a foreign [as
published] base on the occupied territories are also rumours.

“This was not discussed at all,” he said. At the same time, Moscow
might think about it if the issue of deploying bases arises during the
peace talks.

The Russian diplomat also commented on reports about the coming of US
and NATO troops to Azerbaijan.

“We know official Baku’s position on this. Azerbaijan has repeatedly
stated that there is no need to deploy any foreign military bases in
the country. That is, there is absolute stability and peace in
Azerbaijan and the state has enough possibilities to ensure internal
security. We think that this policy has brought Azerbaijan success for
years. Moscow approves of this policy, and we think that the
consequences of any step to be taken should be calculated beforehand,”
he said.

Russian bases in Armenia will not increase

Does the stationing and military reinforcement of the Russian bases in
Armenia have an impact on the talks?

Yakovenko said that “it is a completely different issue and has no
impact on the settlement”. That’s to say the Russian bases have
existed in Armenia since Soviet times and are not expected to
increase.

At the same time, the military factor in Russia’s policy on the
Caucasus is at the minimum.

“We are interested in Azerbaijan’s independence and sovereignty, the
resolution of its economic and social problems. We are ready to do our
best in this sphere,” Yakovenko said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress