Wednesday, January 11 2017 17:19

ArmInfo.Russia stands against re-escalation of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict, Sergei  Zheleznyak, a member of the country's State Duma Committee for International Affairs, told APA's Moscow correspondent.

Russia is committed to working on a political settlement of the  conflict, said Zheleznyak, who is also the deputy secretary of the  United Russia Party General Council. "Thanks to Russia's efforts, a  ceasefire was achieved and the bloodshed was stopped during the April  clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh," APA quotes the lawmaker as saying. 

"I'm sure that all sensible politicians both in Azerbaijan and  Armenia understand that such conflicts should be resolved by  political and humanitarian means," he said, adding that a very  dangerous phase of the Karabakh conflict was ceased thanks to  Russia's diplomatic efforts. "Russia became a platform for the  Azerbaijani and Armenian leadership to reach a ceasefire agreement.  I'm sure that in absence of Russia's efforts, the April clashes would  have left more people dead and wounded. Thus, Moscow urges the sides  to avoid armed clashes," he noted. 

When asked about creation of a united group of Russian and Armenian  troops, the lawmaker said the creation of this group is defensive in  nature. "It was created with the aim of ensuring the national  security of Russia outside the country. I'm sure that there will be  no need for this group, if Russia and Armenia do not face any attack.  Thus, there is no reason for concern over the creation of the united  group of Russian- Armenian troops," the lawmaker said.     The politician also commented on Russia's delivery of Iskander  missile systems to Armenia.  "As you know, Russia cooperates with a  number of countries in the military-technical field. Russia enjoys  high level military cooperation with Azerbaijan and Armenia as well,"  Zheleznyak said, noting that Russia's military-technical cooperation  with other countries is mainly intended for the development of the  country's military-industrial complex. "Everyone knows that not the  weapon, but people open fire.  Weapons are guided by people," the  lawmaker said, adding that Russia, in the framework of the Collective  Security Treaty Organization and other international organizations,  insists on seeking a political solution to all existing conflicts.