Sergei Lavrov Characterizes Nagorno Karabakh Conflict As Unique In R

SERGEI LAVROV CHARACTERIZES NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT AS UNIQUE IN RESPECT OF UNITY OF POSITIONS OF OSCE MG COUNTRY-CO-CHAIRS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 03 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 3, NOYAN TAPAN. "We highly estimate the role and
position of Russia in the issue of peaceful settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.

Russia is not only ready to support consent of sides, but is also
ready to come up as a guarantor of achieved agreements." Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated this at the April 3 joint press
conference of Russian and Armenian Foreign Ministers. In the words of
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
more than any other conflict pretends on the status of a unique one and
not because principles different from those laid in the international
law are used to Nagorno Karabakh, but because in the practical respect
this is maybe the only conflict where the interests of Russia, U.S. and
EU do not contradict one another at all and do not contradict the
interests of the conflict parties themselves. S. Lavrov said that
within the framework of the operating mechanism of OSCE Minsk Group
Co-chairs, "such a concrete package was worked out, which permits to
untie that knot, that the participants of any other negotiations on
settlement of any other conflict may only envy it." At the same time,
he added that it’s up to the leaderships of Armenia and Azerbaijan to
say the last word. "We highly estimate the efforts of both Baku and
Yerevan on advancement of negotiations, first of all at the level of
Presidents, as well as at the level of Foreign Ministers. The Co-chairs
very carefully treat their functions. We understand that we should not
decide instead of the sides, but we should only help. I am very hopeful
that this unique unity not only in principles, but also in details
existing among the Co-chairs will help our friends both in Yerevan
and in Baku to find mutually acceptable agreements. Russia will be
ready to completely be a guarantor of these agreements side by side
with another countries. As regards the Kosovo prpblem, he mentioned
that it should be solved the way so as not to create threats to the
architecture of security, which was formed in Europe on the basis of
the Helsinki concluding act.