Baku urges Moscow to step up conflict settlement efforts
An Azerbaijani official has said the nature of his
country`s relations with Russia requires strong efforts from Moscow
in settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
conflict.
Asked whether the expected sales of Azerbaijani gas to Russian giant Gazprom could be used as a card in Garabagh settlement, Novruz Mammadov, head of the international relations department at the President`s Office, told a local TV channel that the issue is instead of a geo-political magnitude.
"Supplying gas to this country is part of Azerbaijan-Russia relations. The relations between the two countries are comprehensive. We are maintaining political, economic, humanitarian, scientific and cultural ties. All these relations demand the Russian leadership to be sensitive in the resolution of the Garabagh conflict."
Baku-Moscow ties have gained momentum in the past few weeks. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who visited the Russian capital earlier this month, described Russia as Azerbaijan`s strategic ally.
Russia co-chairs the OSCE Minsk Group brokering the peace process, along with the United States and France.
As for indignation of the United States over Russia`s increasing role in the Garabagh settlement, Mammadov conveyed Baku`s message to other superpowers as well.
"It would be better if, instead of indignation, they would put forth a strong will for a fair solution to the conflict. We are expecting resolute steps toward conflict settlement from the U.S., France and other countries. If we take into account what US President Barack Obama said regarding the conflict during his visit to Turkey in early April, a conclusion can be made that Washington, on its end, will work harder to resolve the problem."
Meanwhile, Vladimir Dorokhin, the Russian ambassador in Baku, said Russia is the only country contributing to a negotiated Garabagh settlement through the OSCE Minsk Group on the presidential level. He added that Moscow is ready to act as a guarantor in the conflict resolution at any time if it receives such a request from Baku.
Dorokhin emphasized that Russia has always supported Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity, saying that Moscow`s stance within the Minsk Group was simple and comprehensible.
"Talks on resolving the Garabagh conflict are underway between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Russia is merely a mediator. We will support any decision to be passed by the conflicting sides," the ambassador said.
Asked whether the expected sales of Azerbaijani gas to Russian giant Gazprom could be used as a card in Garabagh settlement, Novruz Mammadov, head of the international relations department at the President`s Office, told a local TV channel that the issue is instead of a geo-political magnitude.
"Supplying gas to this country is part of Azerbaijan-Russia relations. The relations between the two countries are comprehensive. We are maintaining political, economic, humanitarian, scientific and cultural ties. All these relations demand the Russian leadership to be sensitive in the resolution of the Garabagh conflict."
Baku-Moscow ties have gained momentum in the past few weeks. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who visited the Russian capital earlier this month, described Russia as Azerbaijan`s strategic ally.
Russia co-chairs the OSCE Minsk Group brokering the peace process, along with the United States and France.
As for indignation of the United States over Russia`s increasing role in the Garabagh settlement, Mammadov conveyed Baku`s message to other superpowers as well.
"It would be better if, instead of indignation, they would put forth a strong will for a fair solution to the conflict. We are expecting resolute steps toward conflict settlement from the U.S., France and other countries. If we take into account what US President Barack Obama said regarding the conflict during his visit to Turkey in early April, a conclusion can be made that Washington, on its end, will work harder to resolve the problem."
Meanwhile, Vladimir Dorokhin, the Russian ambassador in Baku, said Russia is the only country contributing to a negotiated Garabagh settlement through the OSCE Minsk Group on the presidential level. He added that Moscow is ready to act as a guarantor in the conflict resolution at any time if it receives such a request from Baku.
Dorokhin emphasized that Russia has always supported Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity, saying that Moscow`s stance within the Minsk Group was simple and comprehensible.
"Talks on resolving the Garabagh conflict are underway between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Russia is merely a mediator. We will support any decision to be passed by the conflicting sides," the ambassador said.
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