PRESIDENT PUTIN: RUSSIA AS NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT INTERMEDIARY AND GUARANTOR ONLY
RIA Novosti
December 23, 2004
MOSCOW, December 23 (RIA Novosti) – As far as the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is concerned, Russia is ready to act as an intermediary and
a guarantor only, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
“We have formulated our approach [that is as follows]: we are ready
to act as an intermediary and a guarantor of the agreements possible
between the parties to the conflict – Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the
president said at a news conference on Thursday.
“We do not want to become a long-term unfavorable partner for one
of the parties. We are unwilling to assume responsibility for that,”
President Putin emphasised.
In his opinion, the two sides have to reach agreement on their own.
President Putin underlined that Russia had been present at the
Caucasus for centuries, “We’ve got our own interests in the South
Caucasus. These interests should be assured but, of course, they also
have to go with the interests of other nations, including Georgia,
Armenia and Azerbaijan.”
According to the president, Russia has been pursuing proactive policies
in the region.