Prikhodko: Russia Ready to Promote Yerevan-Baku ReconciliationFebruary 22, 2006 - 12:48 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia is ready to promote the reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Russian President's Aide for Foreign Policy and International Relations Sergey Prikhodko stated. "We are ready to assist these states as much as they themselves wish to achieve progress," Prikhodko said. "We will welcome any step forward and are ready to assist the parties to conflict both independently and within the OSCE Minsk Group framework. However any movement should be initiated by the conflicting parties themselves," he noted. Sergey Prikhodko considers that the term of the conflict settlement depend on several factors, these being the readiness of the parties for compromise, Armenian and Azerbaijani President's capability for maneuver, the wish of the people of both states to support their leadership in search of compromise and the readiness of the international community to back the efforts for the settlement of this conflict. At the same time, in his opinion, the opposition got out of the military phase and the situation in Karabakh is not so hot as in other spots of the region, what is the service of the presidents of both states. "We are convinced that the resolution of the problem should be peaceful and that any direct contacts will do good," Prikhodko said, reported Interfax. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |