January 24, 2006 - 13:05 AMT
Russian Peacekeepers Can Participate in Karabakh Conflict Settlement
Russia is ready to supply Armenia and Azerbaijan with armament and military equipment, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanovstated when in Baku. Arming both states Russian will take into account not only the balance of forces in the region but also its national security interests and commercial benefit. Ivanov also noted of the possibility of the participation of Russian peacekeepers in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. First of all it is necessary to engage in the political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict, then it will become possible to speak of peacekeeping operations with Russia's participation," he said. The Russian Defense Minister also noted it is incorrect to blame Russia for arming Armenia only because it transports military equipment from Georgia to its bases located on the RA territory. "The armament is being conveyed from one Russian military base to another," he underscored, Russian media reported.