Putin: Russia Not to Impose Ready Solutions on Baku and Yerevan in Karabakh Settlement

Russia does not force the parties to the Karabakh conflict to accept ready-made solutions, as a balanced compromise between Armenia and Azerbaijan on this issue is required. This opinion was expressed by the Russian President Vladimir Putin on the eve of his visit to Azerbaijan.

"I want to emphasize that we are not trying to force Azerbaijan and Armenia to accept any ready-made recipes. The parties should agree themselves, without outside pressure, to find mutually acceptable solutions. This is our firm position," he noted.

According to Putin, compromise involves finding the optimal balance between the principles of territorial integrity and the right of peoples to self-determination.

"We are fully aware of what kind of responsibility lies on the shoulders of the leadership of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The ultimate goal of the settlement should be agreed, in which neither of the parties would be either winner or loser, concessions would be mutual as well as benefits for each of the parties, and it will become clear to the public opinion in both Azerbaijan and Armenia."

Putin said that Russia is ready to support the solution to the problem that will satisfy all the parties involved and to act together with other stakeholders as guarantor of the settlement. According to him, the Russian Federation is sincerely interested in the fact that in the neighboring region there should be peace and tranquility, people should not be killed, borders should be opened, and economic ties should be renewed. "We do everything possible for that," Putin said.

The President recalled that owing to the direct assistance of the Russian Federation agreement on a ceasefire was signed in May 1994, which still is the foundation of the armistice, and in 2008 the Moscow Declaration was adopted, which confirmed that the settlement of the conflict is to be achieved only by political means. This is the first and so far the only document on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, which bears the signatures of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia. In addition, it is Russia that played a crucial role in the termination of large-scale hostilities in early April this year.  -02D-