Russia-Armenia ties won’t aid Karabakh settlement – Aliyev

Interfax
Dec 20 2004

Baku. (Interfax-Azerbaijan) – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said
that close cooperation between Russia and Armenia will not help end
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“The Russian State Duma speaker [Boris Gryzlov] said during his visit
to Armenia a few days ago that Armenia is Russia’s outpost in the
South Caucasus. We have always believed that Armenia is a state. But
it appears to be an outpost,” Aliyev told journalists on Friday.

“Who do we have to hold talks with – the outpost or the owner of the
outpost? If Armenia sorts out this issue, a more favorable environment
for successful negotiations on [Nagorno-Karabakh] will be created,”
the president said.

The so-called “Paris talks” between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
foreign ministers envision a step-by-step settlement process in
Nagorno- Karabakh, which meets the interests of Baku, Aliyev said.

“The position of Azerbaijan on this issue is clear, and I am very glad
that all the forces in charge of the [Nagorno-Karabakh settlement]
issue are moving closer to this position. A step-by-step settlement
is key to resolving this issue, and the future talks should be guided
by these principles,” the president said.

“My opinion is that if these negotiations are constructive, Armenia
will not abandon its agreements, as it did previously, and we will
be able to reach a certain agreement,” he said.