RUSSIA TO BE INVOLVED IN KARABAKH PEACEKEEPING EFFORT, AZERI PAPER SAYS
Azadliq, Baku
1 Jun 06
The opposition daily Azadliq has said that despite Azerbaijan’s
efforts, Moscow will never recognize Armenia as “an aggressor” state.
In an article on 1 June, the paper said: “Russia does not want to
recognize Armenia as an aggressor and in no way can Azerbaijan accept
Armenia’s current position. It appears that Azerbaijan will have to
agree to Armenia’s demands. In any case, those turning towards the
north should think again.”
It added that Russia will remain loyal to its 200-year-old Caucasus
policy and Armenia will continue to be Russia’s outpost in the South
Caucasus.
Speaking in the Azerbaijani capital during a meeting of CIS defence
ministers on 31 May, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov had twice
mentioned the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Nagornyy Karabakh.
According to the newspaper, “Russia will never accept the
implementation of this plan” in Karabakh, unless it is involved in it.