Putin, Lavrov have specific proposals on Karabakh peace – Russian expert

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry have specific proposals over Nagorno-Karabakh, a Russian expert has said, ruling out any concessions on the part of Armenia.

Speaking to Tert.am, Aleksey Mukhin, Director General of the Russian Center for Political Information, dismissed the report that the so-called Lavrov plan implied a handover of territories.

“All that will have to do with balancing Azerbaijan’s positions with Armenia's. Unilateral concessions are not being considered,” he said.

The expert added that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be in Baku on an official visit on August 8 to attend a trilateral meeting with the Azerbaijani and Iranian counterparts. There are also plans for arranging private talks between the Russian and Azerbaijani leaders. In an official statement earlier today, the press service of the Armenian president said Serzh Sargsyan is starting an official trip to Moscow on August 10.

 

Asked whether those meeting could be interrelated, the Russian expert said he sees a direct connection. “Vladimir Putin is apparently making attempts to elaborate a mechanism that would avert situations as those we eye-witnessed recently,” he said, citing the April escalations in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

Commenting on the Russian and US proposals, the expert said they are aimed at preventing future armed violence along the Line of Contact. “If they to achieve a consensus by Armenia and Azerbaijan, the mechanism will work,” he added.

 

Asked whether the Russian proposal will be acceptable to the sides, Mr Mukhin replied, “Time will show, as both Armenia and Azerbaijan are negotiating parties. We can evaluate that mechanism’s effectiveness only after the sides start really working.”