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Vasili Istratov: â€œRussia completely supports Azerbaijanâ€™s territorial integrityâ€

13 August 2008 11:47 (UTC +04:00)

Asked if international law gives opportunity to conduct military operations for punishment of occupier, then why measures were taken on realization of four resolutions of the UN Security Council on liberation of Azerbaijani occupied lands, Istratov answered.
â€œYou want Russia to implement it? We mediate together with other countries and try the parties to find the way out of the situationâ€, he said.
Istratov touched upon resignation of Mikhail Saakashvili called by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and noted that it should be implemented by Georgians, Parliament and the President.
â€œOpinions of Lavrov should be assessed as difficulty on conducting negotiations with Saakashvili, not as a purpose of operations carried out in South Ossetiaâ€, he said.
The Ambassador quoted statement of Minister and stated that change of the government in Georgia neither depends on Russia, nor other countries, only Georgia can realize it. To him, Georgiaâ€™s NATO membership does not bear any connection with conducted operations.
â€œRussia carried out operations to protect security of its citizens and peacekeepersâ€, he said.