ANDREI NESTERENKO RESPONDS TO EDWARD NALBANDIAN’S ACCUSATIONS

APA
Nov 20 2009
Azerbaijan

Moscow – APA. Director of the information and press department of the
Russian foreign ministry Andrei Nesterenko responded the accusations
by Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian, APA reports. "Moscow
doesn’t pass over the sensation made by some Armenian press agencies
around the statement of Russian foreign ministry official on November
17. Armenian newspapers said that Moscow supposedly changed its
position and was linking the processes of the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict and Turkish-Armenian rapprochement now. This is
misunderstanding. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov made a number
of statements about the Moscow’s position. It remains unchangeable.

The question is about two different processes", said Nesterenko.

He said Russia positively appreciated the documents signed between
Turkey and Armenia. "We believe that friendly neighbor relations
between Armenia and Turkey will have objective effect on enhancing
of peace security in the South Caucasus. Regarding the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, despite existing discords, the sides achieved
certain progress toward the agreement on basic principles of the
settlement process. We see our role in this process in promoting of its
development, assisting the sides to reach common denominator, but we
don’t forcibly suggest any solution recipe to the conflicting parties.

Our position is based on that the Azerbaijanis and Armenians are
responsible to make last choice. Russia is ready to support any
solution option acceptable by all sides and to play a role of guarantor
for the settlement in the case of compromise agreement".