THERE ARE NOT AND WILL NOT BE EASY SOLUTIONS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER
Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 24 2007
Russia, Moscow /corr. Trend R.Agayev / Russia, as co-chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group together with the USA and France, makes everything
depending on it to make closer the positions of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict sides, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Andrei Denisov,
said at the press-conference on 24 December while replying to the
question of Trend Special Correspondent.
"We see that there are certain progresses in this regard. The sides
are continuing talks and it is very urgent. Everybody knows that there
are not and will not be easy solutions here. To make these and other
decision forcibly or under pressure is simply impossible, and if it
is possible, this decision will not be viable and will bring to some
difficulties in the future," Denisov said.
The Russian diplomat considers that settling Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict exclusively depends on how the conflicting
sides reach an agreement with each other. According to Denisov,
Russia’s position on the conflicts, including Nagorno-Karabakh,
envisages following norms of international law.
Replying to the question of Trend Special Correspondent on how it is
expedient to establish military-strategic union between Russia and
aggressor-country Armenia, especially the Armenian-Russian military
co-operation within the frameworks of Collective Security Treaty
Organization, Denisov said that along with other member-countries of
the organization, Russia is co-operating with Armenia. "It is real
and we do not hide it. However, all necessary explanations on this
issue are provided to the Azerbaijani side," he said. According
to the Russian Deputy foreign Minister, Russia proceeds from the
issue that the relations with Azerbaijan are of friendly character
and character of close partnership on important directions of
co-operation. "Generally I do not see any problems in the relations
between Azerbaijan and Russia, excluding ordinary events which happen
between each two countries or neighboring countries," Denisov said.
Denisov set an example that Azerbaijan has its own vision for the
development of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
According to Denisov, non-settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict also
affects the activity of the CIS. "It needs to make some amendments. For
instance, large events within the CIS are not conducted in the capitals
of Armenia and Azerbaijan in order not to create problems. If any
events, meetings of leaders or senior officials are held in Baku, it
will present problems for Armenia or just against if any events are
held in Yerevan. However, we hope that such problems will be few. In
any cases, our Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts will co-operate
within the CIS and assist in settling these issues. In any cases, we
do not see any total freezing," Russian deputy foreign Minister said.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress