RUSSIA INTERESTED IN STABLE SOUTH CAUCASUS – LAVROV

The Messenger, Georgia
April 4 2007

Russia is interested in a stable, secure and flourishing South
Caucasus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated at a joint
press conference together with his Armenian Counterpart Vardan Oskanyan
in Yerevan.

"Many players, including the European Union express their interest
in the South Caucasian region. This interest is incomprehensible. We
believe that interests should be realized through taking into account
the mutual cooperation on issues and stability in the region",
Lavrov said.

As to the security issues, Oskanyan pointed out that frontier troops
of Russia protect the Turkish-Armenian border in accordance to the will
of the two states – Armenia and Russia, RIA Novosti agency reports.

"Indeed, each state protects its own interests. This is of much
importance for Armenia from the state security point of view",
Oskanyan said.