According to a press release, the sides discussed issues related to a settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as well as the current situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the Line of Contact due to the escalation of tensions by Azerbaijan in recent days.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said: “I want to thank you once again for the opportunity to meet you in Russia. Yesterday we had an opportunity to speak about bilateral relations with both President of Armenia and President of Azerbaijan. We also communicated in an informal setting in the evening. True, thank God, we did not discuss business matters last evening. Nevertheless there was a chance to talk with each other about various subjects. I think it creates a certain atmosphere so as to speak about the most complex and difficult issues related to the regional settlement.
Naturally there are international formats for solution of these problems, the Karabakh settlement. No doubt we respect all these international formats and will continue working with our colleagues.
But based on the fact that we have special, very close relations, a profound prehistory allowing us to frankly exchange opinions about where we are and what should be done to make headway in resolving all these problems inherited from the past. In any case, I think it is useful. In any case, it’s useful. I am glad to meet with you today and discuss all these themes.
If you have something to add, please do so,” Vladimir Putin said.
Azerbaijani president said: “Thank you for your attitude to the problem. As we said during the discussion yesterday, this problem requires a solution. It drags on for a long time. I hope that your personal participation in the process will give renewed impetus to the negotiating process.
As you said, there is already a format of negotiations, and a legal basis for resolving the conflict also exists. The UN Security Council passed four resolutions demanding an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian occupation forces from Azerbaijani territory. Unfortunately, 20 years have passed, but those resolutions still remain on paper.
The Minsk Group in the person of Co-chairs is working, trying to bring the sides closer, but they have not succeeded very much. I think that as our friend, partner and neighbor, Russia certainly has a special role in the settlement process. We hope that in the near future we will find a negotiated and peaceful solution that will be in line with the norms and principles of international law and also in line with justice”.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said: “Thank you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, for your efforts, your attention to the Karabakh problem at a difficult time like this. We, the Armenian side, highly appreciate that.
We believe that the conflict can be resolved. It should be resolved on the basis of compromise and the principles that the OSCE Co-chairs suggested to us.
The Azerbaijani side constantly refers to four resolutions of the UN, but let me ask Mr. Aliyev a rhetorical question: What paragraph of those resolutions has Azerbaijan fulfilled? Armenia which exercised its influence to stop hostilities is the only one to have fulfilled paragraphs of the resolutions.
And if we return to the events of the early 1990s, I think it will be a good thing on the one hand, but on the other hand, something may drag on. It will be a good thing because at that time we reached an opinion that there can be no military solution to the conflict. And if we start blaming each other again, I think the conflict will remain unresolved for a long time.
I am grateful to you for seeking to solve the problem. The solution of this problem stems from Armenia’s national interests”.
“I am pleased to note that the Azerbaijani president indicated the need for a peaceful resolution of the problem and you too have just said that. In fact, it is the main thing because there is no greater tragedy than loss of human lives.
At the same time we should act on the premise that the conflict situation arose long ago, we inherited it from the past, as a legacy of the Soviet Union. We should show patience, wisdom and respect for each other to find a solution.
No doubt any complex situation can be resolved if there is good will. I think there is such good will on the part of the Azerbaijani people and the Armenian people as well,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
