MEDVEDEV WILL DISCUSS CASPIAN SUMMIT, KARABAKH, IRAN DURING VISIT TO BAKU
Interfax News Agency
July 2 2008
Russia
Multilateral cooperation in the Caspian Sea region, including
preparations for the third Caspian summit, will be discussed during
the Russian-Azeri top-level talks in Baku on Thursday.
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Days and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev will consider problems related
to the legal status of the Caspian Sea and guarantees of security on
the sea," Kremlin aide Sergei Prikhodko said to Interfax.
The issues will be considered in the context of preparations for the
third Caspian summit due in Baku this year, he said.
"The exact timing of the summit has not been set but preparatory
work is under way. There is no hurry. The main thing for us is not
the time but the contents of the upcoming meeting of the leaders of
the littoral states [Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan,
and Iran] ," Prikhodko said.
He did not rule out that Medvedev and Aliyev may raise the subject
of Iran.
The two leaders will also exchange opinions about the settlement in
Nagorno Karabakh, he said.
"Russia is ready to continue active assistance to the search for a
compromise settlement option both in the format of the OSCE Minsk
group and in other formats," he said.
Moscow’s stance on Karabakh remains unchanged, Prikhodko said. "We
proceed from the belief that the main responsibly for the final
choice of the settlement option lies with the Azeri’s and Armenians
themselves," he said.