RUSSIA FAVORS SOONEST KARABAKH SETTLEMENT – LAVROV

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
April 3, 2007 Tuesday

The Karabakh conflict is unique, as the interests of the United
States, Russia and the European Union in Karabakh do not contradict
one another, as well as the interests of the conflicting sides,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after negotiations with
his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian.

"The OSCE Minsk Group has drafted an action plan, which makes it
possible to settle the conflict, yet the final say belongs to the
administrations of Armenia and Azerbaijan," he said.

"We value high the settlement efforts of the sides, and Russia is
ready to guarantee the fulfillment of agreements," Lavrov said. "We
want a quick solution of the conflict, and hope that an agreement
concerning Karabakh will be reached in the near future."

In the words of Oskanian, the next meeting of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani foreign ministers on the Karabakh issue will take place
in late April or early May. The ministers will prepare a meeting of
the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents.

"The principles suggested by the Minsk Group cochairmen create a
broad framework for cooperation, but there is no consensus," Oskanian
said. He thinks that the Karabakh settlement may be achieved on
these guidelines.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress