NOVO-OGARYOVO, Moscow region. Nov 23 (Interfax) - Attempts to hinder the implementation of the trilateral statement by the Russian, Azerbaijani, and Armenian leaders on Nagorno-Karabakh are surprising, and those who are making such attempts should understand that the alternative to it is war, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a conference dealing with the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh that "there has been a trend toward trying to hinder the implementation of the November 9 statement by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia and to not allow this statement to be fulfilled."
"However, everyone has to admit that it's being implemented successfully," Lavrov said.
In addition, there have been noticeable attempts "to change the essence of the peacekeeping operation, however implicit they are, but they've taken place," Lavrov said.
"Along with the Defense Ministry, the Emergency Situations Ministry, and our border guards, we are involved in analyzing the situation on the ground to duly coordinate the messages we are sending to international organizations to encourage them to be as active as possible in providing their resources for the soonest settlement of humanitarian issues and the preservation of cultural heritage in the conflict zone," he said.
Putin said in response, "What you've just said about a trend toward hindering the implementation of the trilateral statement by the presidents of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan is a surprise to hear."
"The people seeking to do this should understand that the only alternative to this is war. And if, God forbid, that happens, the blood of the casualties will be on their hands, on the hands of those who try to torpedo these agreements," Putin said.
Everyone should bear this in mind, he said.
Putin also mentioned the fact that sympathy has often been voiced and assistance proposed of late, especially to the civilians who have found themselves in the conflict zone and suffered from this. "However, very often nothing more than words happens there. I'd like to ask you to look into the matter as soon as possible and find out what the people in the conflict zone, who have suffered and who need help, could really count on," Putin said.
Putin also prompted the Russian representatives, including those to be present in the nascent humanitarian center, to facilitate all entities, including non-governmental international organizations, in providing aid to the people in the conflict zone via the Russian Foreign Ministry's mediation.