KONSTANTIN KOSACHEV: “RUSSIA TO BACK ANY DECISION ON KARABAKH”

Today, Azerbaijan
May 31 2006

Russia will uphold any decision on Nagorno-Karabakh that will meet
the interests of Armenia and Azerbaijan, said Konstantin Kosachev,
chairman of the State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee.

According to Itar-Tass, in an interview with the Ekho Moskvy radio
station on Wednesday, Kosachev said Russia did not pursue any own
goals in the Karabakh settlement and upheld any decision, which would
meet the interests of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh remains very difficult and Russia
is ready to support any decision, which will satisfy the demands of
both Armenia and Azerbaijan. If mutual accord is reached to deploy a
peacekeeping contingent in the enclave, Russia should support their
address and facilitate its implementation,” the Duma lawmaker said.

Kosachev commented on Vice-Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sergei
Ivanov’s statement on the possible deployment of peacekeeping forces in
Nagorno Karabakh. Peacekeeping units could appear in Nagorno-Karabakh,
the vice-prime minister said.

“As concerns Nagorno Karabakh, I do not exclude that peacekeeping
forces can appear there in a foreseeable future for guaranteeing the
fulfilment of all political accords that will be achieved sooner or
later,” he told reporters.

“The acey-deucy situation, excuse me for mauve ton, cannot continue
endlessly,” he said.

The fragile truce in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict area lasts for 12
years, since May 1994.

“There have been not less, but more flash points like Nagorno Karabakh
in the world from year to year, and this causes regret,” Ivanov said.

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