Russia ready to actively help in resolving Karabakh problem
By Vasily Deyev
ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 24, 2005 Thursday
MOSCOW, March 24 — Moscow is ready for a most active contribution
to the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem both in bilateral
format and as a co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk group, Foreign Ministry
spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said on Thursday.
Russia “welcomes the restoration of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
dialogue at various levels, foremost between the presidents of the
two countries,” Yakovenko said.
It should result in a rapprochement of the parties’ position on the
key settlement aspects and, ultimately, should help work out a formula
of a mutually acceptable settlement of the conflict, he added.
Commenting on Russian-Armenian cooperation, the spokesman noted that
“serious attention is paid to the coordination of efforts aimed at
boosting political interaction in fighting terrorism.”
In addition, an exchange of opinions is underway over intensifying
cooperation within the scope of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization, and further strengthening of the CSTO in the face of
new challenges and threats.
CIS problems and interaction at the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe and other international organizations occupy
an important place in the contacts between Moscow and Yerevan.
Russia and Armenia also focus on coordinating their efforts in
normalizing the situation in the Caucasus, including within the
framework of the “Caucasian Four.”
It helps create an atmosphere of trust and settlement of the existing
conflicts by political means, according to Yakovenko.
“Relations in the region should be built on the basis of good
neighborly ties and the wish to ensure peace, security and mutually
advantageous regional cooperation in all spheres,” the diplomat said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress