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LAVROV SUMS UP RESULTS OF RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC WORK IN 2013 - OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Russia
Jan 24 2014
[parts omitted]
Armenia and Azerbaijan
Question: This year we celebrate 20 years since the signature of the
Bishkek protocol on the end of the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
For 20 years, the Azerbaijani have had no access to the cradle of
Azerbaijani culture - Karabakh. Will there be any specific propositions
to resolve this conflict this year?
A representation of the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is
functioning in the territory of the Embassy of Armenia in the Russian
Federation. How legitimate is this? Isn't this contrary to Russia's
position in this conflict?
Sergey Lavrov: I have not heard of such information. I hear from time
to time that suites are created for somebody, or a restaurant is opened
in the territory of some embassy, contrary to the Vienna Convention. I
assume that the Vienna Convention should be observed by everybody.
As to the first part of your question, we assume that two parties
must agree. The meeting between presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh
Sargsyan last November in Vienna is somewhat encouraging. Especially
considering the fact that there have been no such contacts for two
years. As far as we can understand from our talks with Armenian and
Azerbaijani friends, the heads of state were, in general, satisfied
with their talk and agreed to continue it at foreign minister level
and through a personal dialogue.
Russia jointly with the United States and France, as the co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, is attempting to help in the setting-up of
such a dialogue. There are developments by the co-chairs, which were
deposited with the OSCE and were not rejected by the parties. They
require additional efforts to reach principled agreements on how to
resolve this regional problem.
We will contribute to this process. I emphasize once again: the main
things is that the parties agree to the principles, on which the
agreement will be based. We cannot do this work for them. Jointly
with the Americans and the French we are stimulating both parties,
we are ready to propose some ideas for consideration by Baku and
Yerevan. But the final word rests with them.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Russia
Jan 24 2014
[parts omitted]
Armenia and Azerbaijan
Question: This year we celebrate 20 years since the signature of the
Bishkek protocol on the end of the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
For 20 years, the Azerbaijani have had no access to the cradle of
Azerbaijani culture - Karabakh. Will there be any specific propositions
to resolve this conflict this year?
A representation of the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is
functioning in the territory of the Embassy of Armenia in the Russian
Federation. How legitimate is this? Isn't this contrary to Russia's
position in this conflict?
Sergey Lavrov: I have not heard of such information. I hear from time
to time that suites are created for somebody, or a restaurant is opened
in the territory of some embassy, contrary to the Vienna Convention. I
assume that the Vienna Convention should be observed by everybody.
As to the first part of your question, we assume that two parties
must agree. The meeting between presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh
Sargsyan last November in Vienna is somewhat encouraging. Especially
considering the fact that there have been no such contacts for two
years. As far as we can understand from our talks with Armenian and
Azerbaijani friends, the heads of state were, in general, satisfied
with their talk and agreed to continue it at foreign minister level
and through a personal dialogue.
Russia jointly with the United States and France, as the co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, is attempting to help in the setting-up of
such a dialogue. There are developments by the co-chairs, which were
deposited with the OSCE and were not rejected by the parties. They
require additional efforts to reach principled agreements on how to
resolve this regional problem.
We will contribute to this process. I emphasize once again: the main
things is that the parties agree to the principles, on which the
agreement will be based. We cannot do this work for them. Jointly
with the Americans and the French we are stimulating both parties,
we are ready to propose some ideas for consideration by Baku and
Yerevan. But the final word rests with them.