KHANTY-MANSIISK. June 27 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow does not object to the European Union playing a more active role in resolving frozen conflicts in the former Soviet republics.
"We [Russia and the EU] have solidified our common understanding of the inexpediency of breaking the well-entrenched formats of resolving these conflicts," he told journalists in Khanty-Mansiisk on Friday.
This would be inexpedient, because "attempts to change the format will only lead to either party being tempted to exploit contradictions," the minister said.
Currently, there is every opportunity for Russia and the EU to cooperate in resolving "frozen conflicts," Lavrov said.
"But the main thing here is for the conflicting parties to hold a direct dialogue with each other," he said.
"Any attempt to change this and to entrust the key role to outside players, be it Russia, the EU or other factors, could lead to the key players trying to break their commitments and to outwit their partner," the minister said.