June 27, 2011 - 15:46 AMT
Kommersant: Medvedev disappointed with Kazan meeting, may stop mediation

The talks on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement can further take place without Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s participation, the Kommersant business daily reported. “The Russian President was so disappointed with the results of the Kazan meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders, that he may stop his mediatory mission. He plans to organize the next meeting between Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan only under the condition that the two Presidents will finally sign the document on the basic principles for the Karabakh conflict settlement,” the newspaper said.

“The Kazan summit’s failure may have direct consequences for the peacemaking initiative of Dmitry Medvedev, who had been actively engaged in the process of reconciliation between Azerbaijan and Armenia since autumn 2009 and already organized nine tripartite meetings in Russia,” it added.

Despite optimistic forecasts and encouragement, the anticipated June 24 meeting ended in a statement saying that the heads of state “noted the reaching of mutual understanding on a number of questions, whose resolution helps create conditions to approve the basic principles."

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan praised the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries for their continuous attention to the problem and once again thanked Russian President for his personal endeavors to bring the positions of the conflicting sides closer.