MOSCOW — Russia is strongly opposed to any attempts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by military means, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday after talks with his visiting Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian.
“I am sure that despite the rhetoric, none of the interested parties wants such escalation. All actions are directed at finding a mutually accepted solution as soon as possible,” the top Russian diplomat said, adding that Moscow will continue efforts to see conditions created for the settlement of Karabakh conflict on the basis that would be acceptable both for Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Foreign Minister Nalbandian, for his part, stressed that there is no alternative to negotiations in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. But, as quoted by Russia’s TASS news agency, he said: “Till today Azerbaijan has rejected proposals of the Minsk Group co-chairs both on the essence of the settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and on confidence-building measures.”
Lavrov also described Armenia as his country’s “reliable partner and ally.” “We value our centuries-old relations which have been cemented by the historical, cultural and spiritual proximity between the peoples of the two states,” he told a joint news conference in Moscow. “These relations have been developing steadily and have taken on a new quality in the context of Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union.”
The meeting with Nalbandian “reaffirmed the strategic and allied character of Russian-Armenian relations, added Lavrov.
1 comment
War Is a War
That Never Sings Peace
War to endure . . .
Lasts to slay neck after neck,
Lasts . . . grading memories . . .
Whines like hurricanes . . .
Nailing in each innocent hart (heart).
Who can pull the nails out,
Remain in hovering centuries,
Weeping through ears . . .
After blinding eye after eye . . .
Polluting every place . . . atmosphere.
Domes, belfries, green gardens like paradise . . .
True stories condensed with agonies
Sharing blood . . . tears from lips to lips?
Centuries after the Iliad . . .
Time can never clean deep-seated blood . . .
Can never augment . . . treat . . . heal . . .
We still search for crushed skulls . . . Here and there . . .
Mankind, still stepping above,
Knows their beloveds lie beneath
Their sounds are there . . . unheard
But sensed sometimes when they are murmured!
Hidden between the winds, in the sea waves,
In sands, in rocks, deep in the valleys . . .
We must hymnade, Serenade . . .
Beloveds hear our voices . . .
Can they answer along?
One day . . . we will reach them,
Although . . . we are above now.
Joining them, we’ll end the sighs of the
Slayed . . . bombed . . . killed . . ..
War grows in evil souls,
Digging hate, revenge, savage dreams . . .
Cursing each love . . . each laugh . . . each smile . . . each lore . . .
That warriors won’t breathe any more,
Chosen to lose their way; they can see only a blind destiny.
Pain entered flowers, trees, sand, skies, seas . . .
The clouds reflected bloody red.
There . . . were no saints . . . There were no kin
The fields were green . . . There were the children
Of many genes . . . together enjoying their play.
How can flowers grow without the touch of their beloveds . . .
Faces, without hearty smiles; No love . . . but sears . . .
Everything died . . . none find hopes . . . dreams . . ..
Eyes blink . . . half closed . . . some never to see.
Still searching the sky,
They pray not to reach there
Stays painful, soulful, soundless, grimful,
What to say . . . How to say . . .
It is mad war . . . maladies, pollutions, toxins . . .
It is the war destroying every artful statue with immoral shields.
Who can apply plastic surgery to ugly faces of wars
And return them back as they were Innocent Fresh . . .
It is so ~ so deep . . . None can reach . . .
Can any hands count so much grief?
Bless every year mankind chooses peace.
Sing for glorious P.E.A.C.E to last.
Dr. Sylva Portoian
From the Historical Poetry Collection,
“GOMIDAS MY MUSICAL GOD” (2015)