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ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 30 2008
Moscow, Yerevan step up cooperation to resolve Armenian transport problem
30.05.2008, 21.45
MOSCOW, May 30 (Itar-Tass) -- Moscow and Yerevan will step up
cooperation for solving the Armenian transport problem, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in comments on Friday negotiations
with his Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandian.
`Russia-Armenia trade is nearing $1 billion. Our investments in
Armenia are approximately the same,' Lavrov said. `We have agreed to
step up cooperation for solving the Armenian pressing problem -
transport. We hope to achieve positive results. Russia is the leading
economic partners of Armenia, and we want our cooperation to be as
efficient as possible.'
Lavrov recalled the recent meeting of Russian leaders with the newly
elected Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and said the meeting
confirmed the continuation of the equal allied relations between
Russia and Armenia.
`Today's negotiations are an important link of the bilateral
cooperation. We stated the similarity of our positions in many issues,
including cooperation at the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE
about the South Caucasian situation and the Karabakh settlement.'
`It is important to make the region stable and secure,' Nalbandian
said. `Armenia is ready to continue negotiations with Azerbaijan on
the basis of proposals of the Minsk Group cochairmen.'
He voiced hope that the upcoming meeting of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani leaders in St. Petersburg will be positive and the
presidents will instruct their foreign ministers to continue
negotiations with the assistance of the Minsk Group cochairmen.
`We wait for Azerbaijani proposals, which may help resolve the
Karabakh conflict,' Nalbandian said. `Proposals of Russia, the United
States and France [that cochair the Minsk Group] must not be ignored.'
There is no military solution to the Karabakh problem, Lavrov said.
`It is possible to resolve this conflict only through direct
negotiations of the sides with the support of the Minsk Group
cochairmen,' Lavrov said. `I can tell you on behalf of the Minsk Group
that there is no military solution to the Karabakh problem.'
`As for the problem of regional armaments, the parameters of local
armed forces and weaponry are being regulated with international
treaties. There is a number of verification tools,' Lavrov said.
The upcoming meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in
St. Petersburg will give guidelines for further Karabakh settlement
efforts of the two foreign ministries, he remarked.
`The presidents will meet in St. Petersburg this June. The meeting
will give guidelines to the two foreign ministers supported by the
Minsk Group,' he said.
`It is possible to reach agreement only in direct negotiations, yet
both sides laud [the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group] cochairmen,'
he said.
`It is necessary to anticipate possible consequences whenever any
settlement proposal is put on public vote,' he said. `Such methods
hardly contribute to the maximum constructive atmosphere and the
normalization of bilateral contacts.'
`The wish of any side to the conflict to achieve the soonest
normalization is understandable. That is what matters,' Lavrov
said. `At the same time, the sides should stick to the agreed
format. A side may grow impatient but it should not question the
validity of the negotiating mechanism, especially the one that has
proven its worth.'
'Last year the Minsk Group cochairmen presented their proposals, which
fell short the comprehensive solution but still affirmed positive
changes in the overwhelming majority of the settlement aspects,'
Lavrov said.
May 30 2008
Moscow, Yerevan step up cooperation to resolve Armenian transport problem
30.05.2008, 21.45
MOSCOW, May 30 (Itar-Tass) -- Moscow and Yerevan will step up
cooperation for solving the Armenian transport problem, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in comments on Friday negotiations
with his Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandian.
`Russia-Armenia trade is nearing $1 billion. Our investments in
Armenia are approximately the same,' Lavrov said. `We have agreed to
step up cooperation for solving the Armenian pressing problem -
transport. We hope to achieve positive results. Russia is the leading
economic partners of Armenia, and we want our cooperation to be as
efficient as possible.'
Lavrov recalled the recent meeting of Russian leaders with the newly
elected Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and said the meeting
confirmed the continuation of the equal allied relations between
Russia and Armenia.
`Today's negotiations are an important link of the bilateral
cooperation. We stated the similarity of our positions in many issues,
including cooperation at the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE
about the South Caucasian situation and the Karabakh settlement.'
`It is important to make the region stable and secure,' Nalbandian
said. `Armenia is ready to continue negotiations with Azerbaijan on
the basis of proposals of the Minsk Group cochairmen.'
He voiced hope that the upcoming meeting of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani leaders in St. Petersburg will be positive and the
presidents will instruct their foreign ministers to continue
negotiations with the assistance of the Minsk Group cochairmen.
`We wait for Azerbaijani proposals, which may help resolve the
Karabakh conflict,' Nalbandian said. `Proposals of Russia, the United
States and France [that cochair the Minsk Group] must not be ignored.'
There is no military solution to the Karabakh problem, Lavrov said.
`It is possible to resolve this conflict only through direct
negotiations of the sides with the support of the Minsk Group
cochairmen,' Lavrov said. `I can tell you on behalf of the Minsk Group
that there is no military solution to the Karabakh problem.'
`As for the problem of regional armaments, the parameters of local
armed forces and weaponry are being regulated with international
treaties. There is a number of verification tools,' Lavrov said.
The upcoming meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in
St. Petersburg will give guidelines for further Karabakh settlement
efforts of the two foreign ministries, he remarked.
`The presidents will meet in St. Petersburg this June. The meeting
will give guidelines to the two foreign ministers supported by the
Minsk Group,' he said.
`It is possible to reach agreement only in direct negotiations, yet
both sides laud [the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group] cochairmen,'
he said.
`It is necessary to anticipate possible consequences whenever any
settlement proposal is put on public vote,' he said. `Such methods
hardly contribute to the maximum constructive atmosphere and the
normalization of bilateral contacts.'
`The wish of any side to the conflict to achieve the soonest
normalization is understandable. That is what matters,' Lavrov
said. `At the same time, the sides should stick to the agreed
format. A side may grow impatient but it should not question the
validity of the negotiating mechanism, especially the one that has
proven its worth.'
'Last year the Minsk Group cochairmen presented their proposals, which
fell short the comprehensive solution but still affirmed positive
changes in the overwhelming majority of the settlement aspects,'
Lavrov said.