21/05/2013 19:23
Lavrov: Russia intends to foster Karabakh conflict settlement
Russia intends to foster a settlement of the Karabakh conflict, including as a Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. According to Golos Rossii, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made this statement following the negotiations with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov.
“We discussed the problems of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement. We are one of the three main international mediators and intend – henceforth, too – to contribute to the sides’ search for mutually acceptable solutions within the framework of our bilateral relations with Baku and Yerevan, and also as a Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group,” Lavrov stated.
According to him, a regular trip of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs to Nagorno Karabakh will take place on May 22. “The Co-chairs will take a regular trip to the region tomorrow. Work continues,” he said.
“We will help in every possible way to create conditions for the problem’s resolution, although it is obvious that only the interested parties themselves can solve it, while we will help them. Hasty assessments should not be given here by saying if there is stagnation, it means that nothing will come of it. I am sure that everything will come out okay if the sides try to find a compromise based on their legal interests,” Lavrov stressed.
According to him, a status quo in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict is inadmissible to Russia and the two conflicting parties.
“A status quo is inadmissible to Russia because these countries are our neighbors, our friends, while stability and peace in the Caucasus is one of the priorities of Russia’s foreign policy,” Lavrov noted.
In his words, “the status quo means not only the unsolved problem of the return of Azerbaijani territories, but also the economic blockade of Armenia”.
“So there is no need to convince anyone of inadmissibility of the status quo, and the Co-Chairs are committed to the task of unblocking this situation,” Lavrov stated.