RUSSIA TO USE ALL OPPORTUNITIES TO SETTLE KARABAKH CONFLICT

news.az
May 12 2010
Azerbaijan

Dmitry Medvedev President of Russia Dmitriy Medvedev is visiting
Turkey.

Russia and Turkey are interested in strengthening stability in the
Caucasus region and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, president
of Russia Dmitriy Medvedev told a news conference in Ankara.

"On our part, we, I mean Russia, will promote this issue and use every
opportunity, authority and influence of Russia to resolve the conflict"
Russia-24 quotes the president as saying, Trend reports.

According to Medvedev, Russia will consult with Turkish partners on
these issues.

At a news conference in Ankara Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev
also said that a trilateral meeting with participation of the Foreign
Ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on the resolution of the
Karabakh conflict will be held soon.

‘Russia has a special mission here. We are not a party in the conflict,
we are a mediator actively involved into the process. I will continue
working here. Our foreign ministers hold regular meetings and in the
nearest future such meetings will continue with participation of the
foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan’, the Russian
president said.

He noted that ‘promising steps have been made recently for the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict’.

‘The sides meet and communicate and there is a real progress in a
number of moments, connected with settlement. But this does not mean
that all issues have been coordinated. Consultations continue. I have
repeatedly offered my mediation to my partners President Aliyev and
President Sargsyan’, the Russian president said.

‘We have repeatedly met in Russia. I hope this will further continue
even despite the moments that require clarification of positions’,
the Russian president said.

He noted that Russian also counts on the active position of other OSCE
Minsk Group participants on the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

Along with Russia, the Minsk Group includes France and the United
States.

Meanwhile, Medvedev noted that ‘all main issues must be discussed
between the parties in the conflict’.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988
due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. 20 percent of
the territory of Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh and seven
surrounding districts are still under the occupation of the Armenian
Forces. In May 1994 the parties reached a cease-fire agreement and
ineffective peace talks are still held under the auspices of the OSCE
Minsk Group and chairmanship of Russia, France and the United States

Armenia has not yet fulfilled the four resolutions of the UN Security
Council about withdrawal from Nagorno Karabakh and occupied lands.