Russia would support any Karabakh settlement option that would be acceptable for the parties involved. It could become the guarantor of such agreements, and was willing to take part in rehabilitating the area after the conflict, Mr Putin said as he was addressing the Armenian Parliament. The National Assembly leadership, and leaders of standing commissions and parliamentary groups attended the meeting.
The President confirmed Russian support for a direct dialogue of Presidents Robert Kocharian and Heydar Aliyev, and spoke for stepping up the dialogue between parliamentarians of all interested parties, including Karabakh.
Mr Putin called the audience’s attention to the problem of the Russian language in Armenia, which passed a law restricting its use after Armenia proclaimed independence.
As for the guarantees and protection of ethnic Russians’ rights in Armenia, the Russian leader is sure there are no problems here, and never will be.
Mr Putin called to step up the work of the State Duma commission for parliamentary cooperation with Armenia.
National Assembly Speaker Armen Khachatrian said he shared Mr Putin’s position on repulsing the global threat of international terrorism. He described that position as firm, far-sighted and consistent.