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ENVOY SAYS RUSSIA INTERESTED IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
ANS TV, Baku
23 Aug 06
The newly-appointed Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan, Vasiliy Istartov,
has said that as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia is doing
a lot to find a solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh problem.
In an interview with the "Point of View" programme on commercial
ANS TV on 23 August, Istratov said: "As a co-chair, Russia is doing
quite a lot within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group to ensure
that the parties can negotiate and resolve the problem between
themselves... A decision cannot be imposed. A decision can be imposed
on the negotiating group. A decision cannot be imposed on this or
another people... A decision should be adopted. This issue will take
some time."
Asked about his reaction to the statements that the problem is not
resolved as Russia does not want it, the ambassador said that Russia
is interested only in good relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan and
praised the current level of Russian-Azerbaijani relations.
Commenting on a statement that Russia wants to join the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline, Istratov said that "if
there arises a need for the Russian companies to use it, ... then
they will probably use it. The issue is about the economy. Will it
be economical? If they want to send their oil products to the region
of the Mediterranean Sea, they will take their decision".
The ambassador said that Russia is very interested in the
implementation of the North-South energy project. Speaking about
economic projects that Russia intends to launch in Azerbaijan, Istratov
said that Ural Region was ready to take an active part in trade with
Azerbaijan and stressed that RusAl [Russian Aluminium] company is
going to invest about 1bn dollars in Azerbaijan for a lengthy period.
Asked about repeated attacks on Azerbaijanis by skinheads in Russia,
the ambassador said that their violence was not directed only against
Azerbaijanis.
Meanwhile, he regretted attacks on them. The ambassador was optimistic
about the situation of Azerbaijanis in Russia as a whole. He also
praised ethnic and religious tolerance in Azerbaijan.
Asked about Russia's position on the development of Iran's nuclear
programme, the ambassador said that "in view of the fact that during
the previous decades, Iran did not show that it is actually open
for cooperation with the international community [changes tack]
In short, some secret programmes were found in Iran which caused
rather serious doubts on the part of the international community. In
view of this situation, an offer was made to Iran to enrich uranium
on its behalf but - in line with a somewhat more complex scheme -
not on its territory... This was a temporary measure proposed by
the international community, including Russia. Unfortunately, as a
rule, Iran rejected our proposals which we all regard as logical and
reasonable. This is one of the reasons why the given problem is acute".
Commenting on the situation in the Middle East, the ambassador said
that Russia wanted stability and peace in the region. He stressed
that the international community needs at least to ensure that the
crisis does not deepen even further.
ANS TV, Baku
23 Aug 06
The newly-appointed Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan, Vasiliy Istartov,
has said that as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia is doing
a lot to find a solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh problem.
In an interview with the "Point of View" programme on commercial
ANS TV on 23 August, Istratov said: "As a co-chair, Russia is doing
quite a lot within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group to ensure
that the parties can negotiate and resolve the problem between
themselves... A decision cannot be imposed. A decision can be imposed
on the negotiating group. A decision cannot be imposed on this or
another people... A decision should be adopted. This issue will take
some time."
Asked about his reaction to the statements that the problem is not
resolved as Russia does not want it, the ambassador said that Russia
is interested only in good relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan and
praised the current level of Russian-Azerbaijani relations.
Commenting on a statement that Russia wants to join the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline, Istratov said that "if
there arises a need for the Russian companies to use it, ... then
they will probably use it. The issue is about the economy. Will it
be economical? If they want to send their oil products to the region
of the Mediterranean Sea, they will take their decision".
The ambassador said that Russia is very interested in the
implementation of the North-South energy project. Speaking about
economic projects that Russia intends to launch in Azerbaijan, Istratov
said that Ural Region was ready to take an active part in trade with
Azerbaijan and stressed that RusAl [Russian Aluminium] company is
going to invest about 1bn dollars in Azerbaijan for a lengthy period.
Asked about repeated attacks on Azerbaijanis by skinheads in Russia,
the ambassador said that their violence was not directed only against
Azerbaijanis.
Meanwhile, he regretted attacks on them. The ambassador was optimistic
about the situation of Azerbaijanis in Russia as a whole. He also
praised ethnic and religious tolerance in Azerbaijan.
Asked about Russia's position on the development of Iran's nuclear
programme, the ambassador said that "in view of the fact that during
the previous decades, Iran did not show that it is actually open
for cooperation with the international community [changes tack]
In short, some secret programmes were found in Iran which caused
rather serious doubts on the part of the international community. In
view of this situation, an offer was made to Iran to enrich uranium
on its behalf but - in line with a somewhat more complex scheme -
not on its territory... This was a temporary measure proposed by
the international community, including Russia. Unfortunately, as a
rule, Iran rejected our proposals which we all regard as logical and
reasonable. This is one of the reasons why the given problem is acute".
Commenting on the situation in the Middle East, the ambassador said
that Russia wanted stability and peace in the region. He stressed
that the international community needs at least to ensure that the
crisis does not deepen even further.