Russia protests foreign intervention in resolving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Foreign Minister Lavrov

- Mr. Lavrov, which issues will be discussed during the Baku talks?

- My task - together with my Azerbaijani counterparts - is to summarize the activities of the Declaration on Friendship and Strategic Partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan dated July 3, 2008 and outline steps to implement regulations in the near future. During my upcoming meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, I hope to hear his thoughts about developing our relations.

I am tuned into talks with my counterpart Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on key issues in our bilateral agenda, including political, economic and humanitarian cooperation.

Obviously, foreign political talks will be comprehensive. Russia and Azerbaijan, as neighboring countries and active regional players, have many topics to discuss. These are Caspian issues, including defining the Caspian's legal status, creating a multilateral mechanism to ensure security in the region and furthering economic cooperation. In this respect, we may make rapid progress.

We intend to discuss the initiatives of several countries to strengthen stability in the South Caucasus.

We will surely have comprehensive talks on resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We will be glad to hear the thoughts of our Azerbaijani partners about Russia's future steps as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair to assist Azerbaijan and Armenia to end this frozen conflict.

And there is also our international agenda. We will see what can be done to further coordinate the activities of our foreign ministries in the UN and other international organizations.

-? Are Russia's and Azerbaijan's stances on regional policy close, such as resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict? How can the Moscow declaration contribute to solving this territorial conflict???

- Russia's and Azerbaijan's views on the situation in the South Caucasus and ways to guaranteeing peace and stability in the region were fixed in the declaration on friendship. Both our countries have concerns about existing obstacles preventing regional governments from developing steadily.

Firstly, this relates to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russia's position has been expressed repeatedly, including by President Dimitriy Medvedev. I believe it is well known.

Again, I repeat that we protest foreign intervention. The primary responsibility to resolve the issue falls on Azerbaijanis and Armenians. Russia is prepared to support a compromise agreement to satisfy all parties. A viable solution is one that will return stability to the South Caucasus.

Now let us touch upon the declaration signed on Nov. 2, 2008 by Medvedev, Aliyev and Sargsyan and how it can contribute to resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I must say this document has great significance as the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders unambiguously confirmed their intention and readiness to continue bilateral talks to resolve the conflict.

It is no accident that the results of the trilateral meeting received support at the session of the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers in Helsinki in December 2008. Moreover, the three OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen - Russia, the U.S. and France - later made complementary proposals.

The fact that the presidents' last meeting took place recently in Zurich less than three months after the signing of the Moscow declaration testifies to the document's ability to resolve the conflict.

- Azerbaijani Parliament sounded anxiety in connection with anti-Azerbaijani direction of armed forces established under the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). What is the major appointment of these forces?

- As far as I understand, this question is linked with a decision on establishment of the CSTO collective urgent response forces, adopted at an irregular session of the organization. I want immediately state any apprehension in this respect are groundless.

For instance in difference to NATO urgent response forces, these Forces are intended to perform only in the territory of CSTO member-countries. A decision to use these forces is adopted unilaterally by the presidents of CSTO member-countries.

Key functions of CSTO collective urgent response forces will embrace to repulse military aggression, to hold special operations to combat international terrorism and forcible extremism, transnational organized crime, narco-trafficking, as well as to eliminate outcomes of natural calamities and technogenic situations. To fulfill these tasks the collective forces will include mobile military units out of armed forces, special divisions of interior ministries and security services, as well as, emergency ministries.

- Despite response note by Russia, which denies any arms delivery to Armenia in 2008, Azerbaijan continues raising this issue at high level. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry states that this question is still open and the parliament continues sounding strict statement in this connection. How could this fact impact the bilateral relations? Can it make Russia to investigate the issue repeatedly and in more detail?

- We have repeatedly answered this question - Russia has never sold arms and ammunition to Armenia from base 102 in Gumri, as Azerbaijani electronic media reported on Jan. 8, 2009.

Unfortunately, the publication, which represents nothing else than diversification, easily found its "addressees" in Azerbaijan. I don't think there is necessity for additional investigation, because all statements made by Russia through its diplomatic channels are based on facts and do not leave any chance to doubt on conclusions by the Russian military leadership.

We understand Azerbaijan's careful approach towards the issue given difficult situation in the relations between Baku and Yerevan. At the same time, we are convinced that Russia and Azerbaijan possess enough reserves of mutual confidence to prevent such falsifications hindering us to expand strategic partnership.

- What steps are taken to consolidate the efforts of the CIS participating countries in combating negative consequences of the global financial-economic crisis?

- Upon the decision of CIS Council of State Heads dated Oct. 21, 2008, a conference of the finance ministers of the CIS participating governments took place in Moscow, where the participants exchanged views on this question. Anti-crisis problems were also on the focus of attention during the meeting of the CIS Council of Government Heads, which took place on Nov. 14, 2008 in Kishinev. During the meeting it was recognized that the high mutual integration of the economies of the CIS countries requires coordinating steps for the minimization of the negative consequences of the crisis. Especially because the majority of the CIS states face such problems as, for example, limitation of access to the external sources of funds. The work in this regard was continued at the session of CIS Economic Council CIS on Dec. 12, 2008.

The anti-crisis measures are reflected in the Plan of measures for the realization of the first stage - 2009-2011 - of Strategies for economic development of the CIS for the period of up to 2020, which is planned to be submitted for the approval at the meeting of the CIS Council of Government Heads due on May 22 in Astana.

More "moved" the anti-crisis co-operation is made within the Eurasian Economic Community, where Azerbaijan is not a member. This was one of the key topics at the last session of Inter-Governmental Council of EurAsEC on Oct. 10 2008 in Bishkek at the level of Heads of State and on Dec. 12 in Moscow at the level of the Heads of Government.

Today already it is possible to speak of transition to the concrete combined actions in this regard. Under the chairmanship of the Finance Minister of Russia A.L.Kudrin, the EurAsEC Council for Financial and Economic Policy prepared complex joint measures to overcome the consequences of the global financial and economic crisis. The measures were approved at the December session of EurAsEC Inter-Governmental Council. The plan for the practical realization of the measures is finishing to be devised.

The extraordinary summit of EurAsEC which took place on Feb. 4 in Moscow made an important decision on establishment of the anti-crisis fund. The finance of this fund totaling $10 billion is envisaged for providing sovereign loans and stabilizer credits to the participating countries, and also for financing the inter-governmental projects.

- Will any positions in bilateral trade and economical cooperation which amounts to $2 billion undergo any changes in the context of global financial crisis?

- Indeed, goods turnover between our countries hit US 2.4bln last year. Overall the goods turnover displayed a double-rise over the past three years. It testifies for goods bases to further developing economic cooperation, gives an opportunity to rapture gradually from mutual trade on raw basis.

The current structure of bilateral goods turnover enables to minimize jointly negative outcomes of global financial-economic crisis. So, it is necessary take measures to consolidate quality changes in structure of mutual trade, increase share of goods with high added cost, particularly, machinery products. Furthermore, we plan to realize huge joint energy projects with Azerbaijan, which are being developed.

It will undoubtedly require from all interested organizations and enterprises to take active steps directed at increasing efficiency of economic cooperation. Our experts are sure Russia's remaining as a big commodity supplier to Azerbaijan. Russian entrepreneurs voice their readiness to develop hence their business in Azerbaijan. So, good turnover between Russia and Azerbaijan is predicted to remain in its 2008 level in 2009. I add that there is not any obstacle to involve Azerbaijan to antirecessionary measures taken under EurAsEC.

- Active talks are presently going on in connection with the implementation of Nabucco project, which also envisages Azerbaijan's participation in. Could Azerbaijan's participation in this project negatively impact on bilateral relations between Baku and Moscow?

- Azerbaijan's decision on participation in energy projects is its sovereign right and we respect it. It also concerns Nabucco gas pipeline.

Major criteria to select the route for oil and gas delivery should be cost efficiency, reliability and ecological security. We are against excessive politicization.

Russia share common understanding of diversifying energy supply routes as a method of ensuring the European energy security. We realize projects constructing alternative gas pipeline routes to different regions of the continent. First of all it is dealt with North and South Stream routes. Nationwide, "Blue Stream" gas pipeline has been commissioned.

We support expansion of Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation in energy field.

- If our young people begin to better understand each other and become closer, it will be possible to solve many Russian-Azerbaijani problems, which have risen over the last 15-18 years. What role do the Russian language and culture play in strengthening mutual understanding between the young people?

- Welfare and prosperity of the country mostly depends on efficiency of youth policy. Namely youth differs with active position, receptive to all innovations, mobile, capable to find easily a common language with their foreign contemporaries.

Thus, 2009 was announced a Year of Youth in the CIS in whole and in Russia separately. Different events will be held and I expect youth from Azerbaijan to take an active part. I want to note that they are aimed to encourage interculture dialogue, to confirm tolerance in youth sphere, and basic spiritual and moral values.

Young people of our countries have too many common grounds. It is necessary to promote actively the bilateral programs of cooperation in youth policy, to create wider opportunities for joint public activity of youth. These projects should have legal basis in form of intergovernmental agreements.

Russia remains a key tool of human intercourse in CIS and respectively, represents an important element strengthening moral and cultural community of our nations. Although ethnic Russia comprise only two percent of total population in Azerbaijan, Russia retains a position of second language in the country. Education in tens of schools and universities is in Russia. We are grateful to the Azerbaijani authorities for efforts in maintaining Russian-language information, education and culture space.

We feel youth craving for Russian in Azerbaijan. Our task is render all possible support in this respect. We carry out many projects, including different contests and Olympiads on Russia, presentation of Russian education system, book exhibitions and literature evenings.

The development of cultural ties between our nations plays an important role in deepening mutual understanding between the youth of the two countries. A range of actions are scheduled for youth -?an international festival of cinematographic debuts "Spirit of Fire", an exhibition of applied arts and folk arts, arts festival "Dolphin Games", as well as event within the framework of "Youth Diplomacy".

- What is your estimation of prospects of further developing the Russian-Azerbaijani humanitarian cooperation?

- Very positive. There are huge reserves to increase humanitarian cooperation between our two countries both in bilateral spheres - education, culture, science, health, sports, tourism, social and law defense, information, and multilateral organizations of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) - the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation and the Council of Humanitarian Cooperation.

During holding the national years of Russia and Azerbaijan in 2005-2006 our countries generated rich experience in implementing joint measures dedicated to different fields of life of Russia and Azerbaijan societies. We hope these good traditions will develop further.

We coordinate our relations in the international context under the Russian-Azerbaijani program on cooperation in humanitarian fields in 2007-2009.

We regard education and science as prospective direction of our cooperation. The recently opened Baku branch of Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Baku Slavic University, as well as other schools of Russia and Azerbaijan could be fully become platforms to implement joint projects in innovation spheres, particularly in nanotechnology researches. There is a good reason for it - 2010 was announced a year of science and innovations in the CIS.

Interaction in inter-religious field is intended to contribute the deepening confidence and mutual understanding between out two nations. We expect the fruitful cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Caucasus Muslims Board to continue.