LAVROV: THE SOONER THIS HAPPENS, THE BETTER

Aysor
Jan 14 2010
Armenia

On his visit to Armenia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met
with journalists. As Russia is a co-chair in process of Karabakh
negotiations, questions by journalists concerned mainly this subject.

"Russia doesn’t see any link between Armenian-Turkish reconciliation
and settlement of the Karabakh conflict, so it’s wrong to try falsely
to link them," said minister. Russia comes from supporting the process
of normalisation relations between Armenia and Turkey, according to
Lavrov. It’s worth mentioning, that Russia was a participant of the
Zurich ceremony of signing the protocols in October.

"We believe, the sooner this happens, the better for whole region,"
said Sergey Lavrov adding that Russia is ready to contribute to the
process through the implementation of infrastructure projects which
are favorable both for Turkey and Armenia.

When asked whether Russia can consider its energy interests in the
context of Armenian-Turkish relations above right to self-determination
of people of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Russian minister said
no. Russia comes from the incontestable fact that views of people of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic cannot be ignored, he said.