MEDVEDEV SUPPORTS DIRECT ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI NEGOTIATIONS

Interfax News Agency
July 3 2008
Russia

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev welcomed progress in the Karabakh
settlement process and promised support to the participants in the
direct negotiations.

"Certain progress has been made," Medvedev said after talks with
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Thursday.

"Moscow supports the resumption of direct negotiations between the
Azeri and Armenian presidents, which took place in St. Petersburg on
June 6," he said.

"Russia will continue to assist the search for a mutually acceptable
compromise" in the Karabakh settlement process, Medvedev said.