Russian foreign minister to discuss Karabakh in Armenia

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
17 Feb 05

[Presenter] Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Yerevan
late on Wednesday [16 February] evening.

At talks in Yerevan he will discuss the resolution of Armenia’s
transport problems, the situation in the fuel and energy sector,
the implementation of the agreements reached by Russia and Armenia
earlier and other issues.

After his meetings with the Armenian leadership, Sergey Lavrov will
visit the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex to pay tribute to the
victims of genocide.

[Sergey Lavrov, shown at airport speaking in Russian with Armenian
voice over] We have multifaceted and allied relations with Armenia. We
shall discuss the implementation of all the agreements reached by the
presidents [Vladimir Putin and Robert Kocharyan] of our countries. We
will discuss both bilateral and regional issues. Stability in the
Caucasus is in the interests of both Russia and Armenia.

[Presenter] Sergey Lavrov will also discuss the Karabakh problem in
Yerevan. Moscow thinks that the conflicting sides themselves should
find a mutually acceptable solution. The Russians are ready to actively
help the sides, both on a mutual basis and within the framework of
the OSCE Minsk Group and to act as a guarantor, the spokesman for
the Russian Foreign Ministry, Aleksandr Yakovenko, said.