UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO DEBATE KARABAKH? NO WAY TO CURE THE MATTER, WARNS RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY

MOSCOW, November 1 (RIA Novosti) - The United Nations General Assembly supposes to take up the Karabakh issue. The prospect will certainly not encourage negotiations on the problem-laden Azeri territory populated by Armenians for centuries. The opinion comes from Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs press and information department. It spoke up after an initiative came to add "Developments in the Occupied Areas of Azerbaijan" to the General Assembly agenda.

"The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group, Russia among them, abstained as the issue was put to vote. As we see it, the initiative for debates parallel to an OSCE discussion will hardly be beneficial for the negotiations." The vote shows the world's majority to share Russian diplomats' point, say ministerial PR.

"As for the Karabakh settlement negotiations, Russia is known to be interested in the problem solved as soon as possible. Russia is promoting settlement in every possible way, be it through bilateral efforts or as Minsk group co-chair on the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe," stresses the Foreign Ministry. The Minsk group format helps to settle whatever aspects of the Karabakh conflict, and to ensure the peace cause making progress, is Moscow's opinion.

A recent Armenian-Azeri presidential summit highlighted a chance to resume negotiations for a mutually acceptable solution, points out the Foreign Ministry.