NAGORNO-KARABAKH REGULATION WAITED UNTIL REINFORCEMENT: RUSSIA IS READY TO GIVE MONEY TO ARMENIA AND WEAPONS TO AZERBAIJAN
Vladimir Solovyev

WPS Agency
Russia
April 20, 2009 Monday

MOSCOW IS PREPARING CHANGES IN REGULATION OF THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH
CONFLICT; Foreign ministers of CSTO (Collective Security
Treaty Organization) member states discussed "important issues of
international security" and establishment of collective rapid-response
forces in Yerevan. Using the opportunity, Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov met with President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, to
coordinate organization of an Armenian-Azerbaijani summit dedicated
to Nagorno-Karabakh in Russia.

Yesterday, foreign ministers of CSTO (Collective Security
Treaty Organization) member states discussed "important issues of
international security" and establishment of collective rapid-response
forces in Yerevan. Using the opportunity, Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov met with President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, to
coordinate organization of an Armenian-Azerbaijani summit dedicated
to Nagorno-Karabakh in Russia.

Peace and love

Sergei Lavrov did not simply visit Yerevan but tried to get the
maximum benefit from this trip. He met with President of Armenia,
Serzh Sargsyan, and obtained an agreement of the Armenian leader
to take part in the trilateral summit dedicated to resolving of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict prepared by the Russian party. It is
planned that this summit will take place in June in the framework of
the economic forum in St. Petersburg with participation of President
of Azerbaijan and with mediation of Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev.

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The press service of the President of Armenia explained that the matter
of participation of the Armenian party would be finally settled during
the visit of Serzh Sargsyan to Russia scheduled for April 23. Along
with this, people in Moscow who claim the role of the main pacifier
of Armenians and Azerbaijanis already do not doubt success of their
peacekeeping initiative, especially bearing in mind that Russian
authorities have agreed to satisfy the request of Yerevan about a
dollar credit. However, instead of requested $2 billion Moscow is
going to give only $500 million. In any case, a top-ranking source
in the Russian Foreign Minister explains if this is insufficient
Russia will be ready to help Armenia to receive access to money of
the "anti-crisis fund" established at the beginning of the year in
the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Hello, arms!

While Lavrov was achieving the agreement of Yerevan to support the
peacekeeping efforts of Moscow in Nagorno-Karabakh, Dmitry Medvedev
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Azerbaijani colleague Ilkham Aliev.

Besides the confirmation of the agreements on purchase of gas from
the second part of Shah Deniz field by Gazprom the parties will also
discuss preparation of the already mentioned summit dedicated to
Nagorno-Karabakh in St. Petersburg.

Whereas Russia promises financial benefits to Armenia to ensure its
compliance, the Kremlin has found a different approach to Azerbaijan
who is rich in hydrocarbons. Baku turned to Russia with inquiries
about the purchase of armament, namely antitank and air defense
missile systems, tanks and artillery systems for a long time. Taking
into account the "Armenian factor," these inquiries remained without
answer before. Meanwhile, at negotiations of Medvedev and Aliev the
need of Azerbaijan for Russian weapons may be met.

At least, representatives of Rosoboronexport hint that Azerbaijan is
on the list of priority partners for military industrial cooperation.