Parliamentary diplomacy, including with the participation of the Russian side, can play a significant role in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky said, answering the question of Vestnik Kavkaza.
"Although the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement is an extremely delicate process, which is rather for the Foreign Ministry and prepared negotiators, however, in order to prevent excessive emotions that can cause negative feedback in any negotiations, the role of parliamentarians can also be significant," he stressed.
"Therefore, we must pay increased attention to the issue of the South Caucasus as a region at all venues, in all possible structures. We will invariably advocate it," the deputy assured.
Slutsky recalled that the dossier on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the State Duma is maintained by the Committee on CIS Affairs, led by him for many years. "Naturally, this situation in no way leaves us indifferent. Of course, it is good that the OSCE Minsk Group is working in this direction, but it is necessary, including for Russia, to play its sponsorship role in normalizing the situation more actively, at least to avoid a military confrontation and losses. Dmitry Medvedev was engage in it, when he was Russia's president, he brought the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia together," the chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs said.
"Today the situation is so electrified that the military confrontation can grow into a more active phase. But I am sure that both sides of the conflict will have the common sense not to aggravate the situation," he added.
The deputy drew attention to the need to strengthen the international community's attention to the South Caucasus to resolve the issues on the South Caucasus and, first of all, on Nagorno-Karabakh, in a forced manner. "We know the 2009 Madrid Principles, according to which, the Agdam, Fizuli and the three districts along the Aras river - Zangelan, Kubatly and Jebrail should be returned to Azerbaijan through the corridor Lachin, the width of which is determined by the range of small arms. Armenia keeps Kalbajar. But the situation has hanged in nine years. We need a new base for negotiations on Karabakh. And we should work on it," Leonid Slutsky said.
