VLADIMIR PUTIN: "DECLARATIONS THAT RUSSIA WILL IMMEDIATELY SETTLE THE KARABAKH CONFLICT IF IT WANTS, ARE A SURVIVAL OF IMPERIAL THINKING"

PanARMENIAN.Net - 26.09.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. "I don't think Russia has any special rights in the Karabakh conflict settlement. We clearly see the limits Russia must keep to in the process of settlement of any conflicts, including the Karabakh one". The President of RF Vladimir Putin declared this today after his meeting with his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian, the special correspondent of MEDIAMAX reports from Moscow.

"I very often hear such statements: if Russia really wants, it will immediately settle the Karabakh issue. I don't agree with such declarations and I consider them a survival of imperial thinking", said Vladimir Putin.

According to the Russian president, the conflict should be settled by the conflicting sides themselves, while Russia is ready to support any solution the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will come to. "We support the direct dialogue between Presidents Kocharian and Aliyev, and we think the very fact of their regular meetings is a progress". Putin also noted that the sides may make different concessions and compromises, and he wouldn't want anybody to think that this is done under Russia's pressure.

The President of Armenia said that the sides are really trying to find a solution themselves, "not burdening the mediators with this task, which perhaps would have been much easier". At the same time, Kocharian said that after the solution is found the sides will need considerable support on the part of co-chairmen states of the OSCE Minsk group. However, Kocharian said, all the political forces in Armenia are of the same opinion that the role of Russia in this process will be decisive. "Russia must play the leading and decisive role in this", stressed Armenian President. -0-