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RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER HAILS MOSCOW DECLARATION ON NAGORNYY KARABAKH
Ekho Moskvy radio
Nov 15 2008
Moscow
The declaration on Nagornyy Karabakh signed by the Armenian,
Azerbaijani and Russian presidents in Moscow on 2 November was a
major step forward, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.
First, Lavrov said that both Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan "have unambiguously confirmed
their readiness and intention to continue meeting at the highest
level. Incidentally, they have done this for the first time in 14
years in a document they signed, because after the conflict ended 14
years ago the two presidents have not signed any documents.
"Second, the Moscow declaration lists specific instructions of
President Aliyev and President Sargsyan to their corresponding foreign
ministers to step up work aimed at seeking a compromise.
"Third, for the first time in a joint document, whether it is signed
or not, the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders acknowledged the presence
of the Madrid document which was handed to the parties by the co-chairs
one year ago, and which is now deposited with the OSCE," Lavrov said.
Lavrov described as "a major step forward" the fact that both
presidents "confirmed the presence of the document and their readiness
to work taking it into account".
Fourth, Lavrov said the leaders had unambiguously confirmed the role
of the three co-chairs of the Minsk OSCE Group - Russia, the USA and
France. He went on: "Many of our Western partners had suspicions that
Russia was trying to create a new format. We assured them that we had
nothing of the kind in mind as we value highly the three-party format
of the chairmanship of the Minsk OSCE Group on Nagornyy Karabakh. It
is unique, if only because Russia, the USA and France representing
the European Union, have no disagreement, even tactical, but are
working along the same lines and are moving the parties towards
reaching an agreement.
"The fact that the Moscow agreement, at our initiative, has repeatedly
stressed the ongoing importance of this mechanism, moreover, the
need to use it more actively, the fact that both the presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan subscribed to these provisions - that is also
a great achievement.
"This document has not solved everything, but the very fact of
the meeting, the fact of signing the declaration - not a hollow or
unsubstantiated declaration but one with rather practical contents -
creates momentum that should be used.
"At present, the co-chairs are in the area. They are holding meetings
in Yerevan and Baku and are preparing another meeting of ministers. In
future we will prepare proposals for the presidents to meet and
perhaps make some more progress."
Ekho Moskvy radio
Nov 15 2008
Moscow
The declaration on Nagornyy Karabakh signed by the Armenian,
Azerbaijani and Russian presidents in Moscow on 2 November was a
major step forward, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.
First, Lavrov said that both Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan "have unambiguously confirmed
their readiness and intention to continue meeting at the highest
level. Incidentally, they have done this for the first time in 14
years in a document they signed, because after the conflict ended 14
years ago the two presidents have not signed any documents.
"Second, the Moscow declaration lists specific instructions of
President Aliyev and President Sargsyan to their corresponding foreign
ministers to step up work aimed at seeking a compromise.
"Third, for the first time in a joint document, whether it is signed
or not, the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders acknowledged the presence
of the Madrid document which was handed to the parties by the co-chairs
one year ago, and which is now deposited with the OSCE," Lavrov said.
Lavrov described as "a major step forward" the fact that both
presidents "confirmed the presence of the document and their readiness
to work taking it into account".
Fourth, Lavrov said the leaders had unambiguously confirmed the role
of the three co-chairs of the Minsk OSCE Group - Russia, the USA and
France. He went on: "Many of our Western partners had suspicions that
Russia was trying to create a new format. We assured them that we had
nothing of the kind in mind as we value highly the three-party format
of the chairmanship of the Minsk OSCE Group on Nagornyy Karabakh. It
is unique, if only because Russia, the USA and France representing
the European Union, have no disagreement, even tactical, but are
working along the same lines and are moving the parties towards
reaching an agreement.
"The fact that the Moscow agreement, at our initiative, has repeatedly
stressed the ongoing importance of this mechanism, moreover, the
need to use it more actively, the fact that both the presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan subscribed to these provisions - that is also
a great achievement.
"This document has not solved everything, but the very fact of
the meeting, the fact of signing the declaration - not a hollow or
unsubstantiated declaration but one with rather practical contents -
creates momentum that should be used.
"At present, the co-chairs are in the area. They are holding meetings
in Yerevan and Baku and are preparing another meeting of ministers. In
future we will prepare proposals for the presidents to meet and
perhaps make some more progress."