Armenia lauds Russia's efforts toward Nagorno-Karabakh settlement -- FM.

YEREVAN, August 19 (Itar-Tass) -- Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan welcomed Russia's efforts as a co-chairman of the OSCWE Minsk
Group to mediate in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Russian President Dmitry Medvedev exerts a lot of effort to bring the
positions of the parties closer together for a peaceful resolution of the
conflict," the minister said in an interview with Rossiya 24 news channel
on Wednesday, August 18.
"He has initiated and attended a number of important meetings between
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, which proved quite useful," the
minister said.
"In keeping with the presidents' instructions, the foreign ministers
held talks mediated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov," Nalbandyan
said.
"All these Russian mediation efforts have full support of the other
co-chairmen - the United States and France," he added.
"At the latest meeting in St. Petersburg in June of this year, the
parties were given the latest version of the Madrid document" - proposals
regarding a framework agreement on the principles of conflict resolution,
which were put forth by the co-chairmen in the Spanish capital in 2007,
the minister recalled.
"Armenia is ready to continue negotiations on the basis of the latest
version of the Madrid proposals," Nalbandyan said.
Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said Russia
was ready to support a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that
would satisfy all parties involved, and to provide guarantees if a
compromise is reached.

.Medvedev, Rakhmon discuss bilateral cooperation, mutual assistance.

SOCHI, August 19 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and
Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon met in Sochi on Wednesday, August 18, to
discuss bilateral cooperation in various areas.
"I am glad to see you in Sochi. It has become a traditional place for
our meetings," the Russian president said while greeting the guest.
Medvedev recalled that he had talked with the Tajik leader earlier in
the day in a four-party format with the presidents of Afghanistan and
Pakistan.
"Tajikistan has put forth a very good initiative. I liked it. Thee
contacts appear to be very important in the regional dimension," he said.
Medvedev invited Rakhmon to discuss "all the issues we have: economic,
political and international in the context of regional cooperation."
"This is not an easy region and we discussed current difficulties with
our colleagues today from the fight against terrorism and the drug threat
to joint responses to natural calamities," Medvedev said.
He noted that all countries in the region - Pakistan, Tajikistan and
Russia - had had to deal with natural calamities this year. "I think it
would be advisable to consider mutual assistance and support in respect to
these issues," he added.
Medvedev suggested talking one to one first and then with key
ministers.
Rakhmon said relations between Russia and Tajikistan were free of any
serious unresolved problems.
He said he was generally satisfied with the dynamics of bilateral
relations and the steady tendencies in trade between the two countries.
"I'm really glad at an opportunity to meet with you, as this meeting
will give us a chance to discuss the things that have been done already,
as well as our plans for the future," Rakhmon said.

.Russian-Armenian relations at their highest point -- FM.

YEREVAN, August 19 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian-Armenian relations are "not
just friendly" but are "at their highest point", Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandyan said.
"Today Armenian-Russian relations are a perfect model for bilateral
cooperation, most successful and effective in the post-Soviet space,"
Nalbandyan said in an interview with Rossiya 24 news channel on Wednesday,
August 18.
"We are preparing a state visit of the president of the Russian
Federation, and the very fact that this is a state visit speaks for
itself," he said.
"Over the past two years alone, almost two dozen top-level meetings
have taken place" and "this also means a lot".
"When we say we have relations of strategic allies, these are not just
words. In fact, strategic partnership or allied cooperation cannot be
lasting if there are no deep ties between the peoples, if there is no
sympathy and warm relations between them," the minister said.
"Friendship between the Armenian and Russian peoples has past the test
of time. We have never been, shall I say, on the opposites sides of the
barricades. Throughout history our fathers and grandfathers fought
together in many wars, including the Great Patriotic War," Nalbandyan said.
He recalled that "almost all Armenian adults fought in the Great
Patriotic War."
"There were 60 Armenian generals in the Soviet army," he added.
During President Dmitry Medvedev's upcoming visit to Armenia, the
presidents of the two countries will unveil a war memorial to Russian
officers and soldiers who died during Russian-Turkish wars in the 19th
century.
-0-zak/