Interfax, Russia
Jan 14 2010

Link between Karabakh, Turkish-Armenian relations will hamper
resolution -Putin

MOSCOW Jan 14

Linking the problem of improving Turkish-Armenian relations and the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem is wrong, said Russian
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

"I do not think it is right to tie up everything in one package.

Each of these problems alone is very hard to resolve, and if we throw
them all into one pile, the prospect of their resolution will be
automatically postponed until a very distant [time]," Putin told a
press conference held jointly with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan.

Russia "like no one else" is interested in stabilizing the Caucasus
region, Putin said.

"Of course, we are interested in swift resolution of all problems,
including Karabakh," he said.

Russia is also interested in the stabilization of Turkish-Armenian
relations, the Russian prime minister added.

"We are very hopeful that any elements of extreme approaches, of the
extreme position based on the problems of the past will be removed
from the negotiating process, and today the Armenian leadership is
also on this positive path, and we welcome this," Putin said.

It would be inappropriate to link the resolution of one problem with
the other, and Russia will assist the resolution of these issues in
every possible way, the prime minister restated.

"At the same time, whereas in the first case (the Karabakh issue)

the solution of the problem will depend on Armenia and Azerbaijan, in
the second it will depend on Turkey and Armenia. We respect and will
respect the positions of all our partners, and Russia’s role here
consists in maintaining anything that is positive," Putin said.