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RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT: NAGORNO-KARABAKH SEES PERIOD OF HOPE (UPDATE)
Interfax
June 8 2011
Russia
Russia, as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, is making every effort at
mediation and believes in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin said
on Wednesday.
"I beg you to believe us when we say that we are doing our best to
resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Dorokhin said at a news
conference, marking the Day of Russia on June 12. "Today, we as
negotiators are in a period of hope," he said.
He said Moscow is making efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict by doing everything in its power so that the parties to
the conflict come to serious agreements. He believes that such a
chance exists.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently
holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding
regions.
Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan,
have held periodic meetings since June 2008 to concede on ways
to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Despite this, the basic
principles have not yet been agreed on.
"Russia stands for the supremacy of international law at the
international arena and is willing to contribute to resolving world
problems", Dorokhin stressed.
Dorokhin named Russia's relations with Azerbaijan a strategic
partnership, noting important events in the past year, including
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit and the Russian-Azerbaijani
humanitarian forum.
"Russia remains an important economic partner to Baku," he said.
"Russia wants to see a strong and prosperous neighbor."
The press conference also touched the issue that "Echo of Moscow"
Chief Editor Alexei Venediktov in his statements justifies the radio
station's journalist's recent visit to Nagorno- Karabakh without
agreement with the Azerbaijani side.
"One cannot ban Venediktov to make statements, but he should understand
his responsibility," Dorokhin said. "Azerbaijan's decision to restrict
this man [journalist Sergei Buntman] - is its right, and it is not
discussed."
Deputy Chief Editor of the Russian radio station "Echo of Moscow"
Sergei Buntman visited occupied Nagorno-Karabakh without Azerbaijan's
knowledge in mid-May. Buntman has interviewed the separatist leaders.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry included the journalists in the
list of persona-non-grata. Azerbaijan declares foreigners, who visit
Nagorno-Karabakh without notifying Baku, persona-non-grata.
Interfax
June 8 2011
Russia
Russia, as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, is making every effort at
mediation and believes in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin said
on Wednesday.
"I beg you to believe us when we say that we are doing our best to
resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Dorokhin said at a news
conference, marking the Day of Russia on June 12. "Today, we as
negotiators are in a period of hope," he said.
He said Moscow is making efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict by doing everything in its power so that the parties to
the conflict come to serious agreements. He believes that such a
chance exists.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently
holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding
regions.
Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan,
have held periodic meetings since June 2008 to concede on ways
to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Despite this, the basic
principles have not yet been agreed on.
"Russia stands for the supremacy of international law at the
international arena and is willing to contribute to resolving world
problems", Dorokhin stressed.
Dorokhin named Russia's relations with Azerbaijan a strategic
partnership, noting important events in the past year, including
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit and the Russian-Azerbaijani
humanitarian forum.
"Russia remains an important economic partner to Baku," he said.
"Russia wants to see a strong and prosperous neighbor."
The press conference also touched the issue that "Echo of Moscow"
Chief Editor Alexei Venediktov in his statements justifies the radio
station's journalist's recent visit to Nagorno- Karabakh without
agreement with the Azerbaijani side.
"One cannot ban Venediktov to make statements, but he should understand
his responsibility," Dorokhin said. "Azerbaijan's decision to restrict
this man [journalist Sergei Buntman] - is its right, and it is not
discussed."
Deputy Chief Editor of the Russian radio station "Echo of Moscow"
Sergei Buntman visited occupied Nagorno-Karabakh without Azerbaijan's
knowledge in mid-May. Buntman has interviewed the separatist leaders.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry included the journalists in the
list of persona-non-grata. Azerbaijan declares foreigners, who visit
Nagorno-Karabakh without notifying Baku, persona-non-grata.