MOSCOW READY TO ACT AS GUARANTOR OF GARABAGH SETTLEMENT
AssA-Irada
November 4, 2009 Wednesday
Azerbaijan
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigori Karasin has said Moscow is
ready to back a solution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict that
would suit all sides involved and act as a guarantor of a settlement
if a compromise is reached. A solution of the problem that will allow
bringing back stability and tranquility in the trans-Caucasia region
will be viable, Karasin told Respublika Armenia newspaper. Such a
solution should help to maintain the historically-shaped geo-political
balance of forces in the region in the post-conflict period, without
simultaneously turning this region into a stage of international
political and military rivalry, said Karasin.
The deputy minister reminded that Russia has been actively involved
in brokering a settlement to the Garabagh conflict since peace
talks began. Currently, Russia is fulfilling these duties on a
multilateral basis, acting, along with the U.S. and France, as a
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the main international forum for
seeking a political solution to the Garabagh settlement, Karasin said,
adding that Moscows mediating efforts are also being made through
bilateral discussions in Baku and Yerevan. He said that it is not
by mere chance that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, hosting
his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian in Moscow on October 12,
regarded Russias involvement in the process of Garabagh settlement
as a very important dimension of our relations. We see our role in
assisting the process of settling the Upper Garabagh conflict, the
sides seeking mutually acceptable upshots on key issues, but [doing so]
without imposing any external recipes on the parties to the conflict,
Karasin said, adding that the brunt of responsibility for making
a final choice rests with Azeris and Armenians proper. According
to Karasin, the parties have achieved certain progress in agreeing
upon the basic principles of the conflict settlement, and Moscow is
ready to continue doing everything in its power to move this process
forward. Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended
with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues
to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in
defiance of international law. Peace talks have not yet resulted
in resolving the conflict. Touching upon Turkey-Armenia relations,
the Russian deputy minister said no aspect of the recently-reached
bilateral agreement could be interpreted as hurting the interests of
a third party. He noted that Ankara and Yerevans signing protocols
on mending ties last month indicates the two countries decisiveness
to establish good neighborliness ties. Karasin added that Moscow was
ready to support the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement by implementing
economic projects in the future, in particular, those in the energy
and transport sectors. Turkey, Azerbaijans ally, and Armenia signed
protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders
in Zurich on October 10, after decades of hostility. The move has
raised concerns in Azerbaijan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
