RIA Novosti, Russia
Jan 14 2005
MOSCOW HAILS PROGRESS TOWARD KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
MOSCOW, January 14 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian foreign ministry has
circulated a report noting certain positive shifts in Yerevan’s and
Baku’s conceptual approaches to Karabakh settlement.
On January 10-11, Prague was the venue of a routine meeting between
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and his Azeri counterpart
Elmar Mamedyarov with the participation of the co-chairmen of the
Minsk OSCE group on Karabakh settlement (Russia, the USA and France).
“Moscow is delighted to note that meetings between the Armenian and
Azeri sides on various levels, including summits and Prague dialogue,
have assumed a regular nature,” says the report.
Azeri-Armenian consultations under the international aegis have
proved to consider virtually all aspects of the Nagorny Karabakh
conflict.
“These include such disputes as the withdrawal of the Armenian
troops, demilitarization of this territory, international guarantees
and the future status of Nagorny Karabakh [Armenian enclave on
Azerbaijan territory, a self-proclaimed republic],” says the report.
“Both sides confirm their readiness to continue joint work with a
view to abating tensions around the Karabakh problem and consequently
improving the situation in all the South Caucasian region.”
“The sides can be only praised for their agreement on advancing in
the implementation of the earlier-made decision to send a
fact-finding Minsk OSCE Group mission to occupied territories in the
Karabakh zone as well as on seeking to stage an Azeri-Armenian summit
in Warsaw this summer.”
“As before, Moscow is ready to assist together with other
participants in the Minsk OSCE Group in an ever deeper mutual
understanding between Armenia and Azerbaijan so as to attain Karabakh
settlement through peaceful talks,” concludes the Russian foreign
ministry’s report.