RUSSIA HOPES FOR ARMENIA-TURKEY RECONCILIATION

Armradio.am
12.05.2010 16:19

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday he hoped Turkey
and Armenia would be able to restore full-fledged relations. "

"We are closely watching the development of relations [between Ankara
and Yerevan] and hope the positive momentum gained after the signing
of relevant documents in Zurich will go on," Medvedev told a news
conference after his talks with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

Although, Medvedev noted, "the process of mending relations between
the two countries is not easy and find different response in Turkey
and Armenia."

According to the Russian President, the normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations will undoubtedly contribute to the
stabilization of situation in the rgion, the active development of
economic ties. "We welcome the process and will be closely watching
the developments," he said.

"Encouraging steps have recently been taken to settle the Nagorno
Karabakh pissue," Medvedev noted. "The sides are holding meetings,
are speaking with each other, certain progress has been reached
on a number of issues, but it does not mean all issues have been
agreed upon. I personally offered the two presidents my intermediary
services.Naturally, other members of the OSCE Minsk Group should make
their contributions, but all the issues should be discussed by the
conflicting sides first."

The Russian president refused to comment on "certain disputable
aspects" of the Karabakh settlement, saying "the subject requires
more scrupulousness," ITAR-TASS reports.