PRESIDENT PUTIN TO ASSIST IN SOLUTION OF KARABAKH ISSUE

RIA Novosti, Russia
March 25 2005

YEREVAN, March 25 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin
hopes that Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents will hold a regular
bilateral meeting.

In the course of the press-conference in Yerevan the Russian President
said that he and the Armenian President discussed the settlement of
the Nagorny Karabakh issue, situation in the Transcaucasia and the
issues concerning the development of the transportation infrastructure.

Speaking about the perspectives for the settlement of the conflict in
Nagorny Karabakh (Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan, which proclaimed
its independence from Baku) Putin assured that “Russia will render
all the necessary assistance to settle the conflict.”

The Russian President noted that at the talks they both seriously
considered the regional problems.

“Our countries are interested in the stabilization of the situation
in the Transcaucasia, formation of the trustworthy atmosphere and the
formation of relations, which will contribute to the development of
the social and economic spheres,” Putin said.

Moreover, the Presidents closely considered the issue concerning the
development of the transportation infrastructure. Putin reminded that
the first ferry from the Russian port Kavkaz (situated on the left bank
of the Kerch strait, which divides Ukrainian Crimea and the Russian
Taman peninsula) came to Poti port with cargo for Georgia. “I hope that
in the future this ferry route will be used for deliveries of cargo for
Armenia and other countries in the region,” the Russian President said.

“These steps will open broad opportunities for business, serve for the
creation of new jobs, intensify the economic life of the region and
provide for the enhancement of the integration processes,” President
Putin said.