Kremlin hoping Armenia, Azerbaijan try to normalize bilateral relations on their own

MOSCOW. Feb 11 (Interfax) - Moscow is ready to facilitate the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement process but would welcome independent efforts of the conflicting sides, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"While staying ready to provide any assistance possible, we would welcome independent efforts [of Baku and Yerevan]. Most importantly, the South Caucasus should remain predictable and actually become a territory of prosperity and cooperation," Peskov told the press on Tuesday. Journalists asked him to comment on Armenian parliament speaker Alen Simonyan's remark that Yerevan was unlikely to agree to Moscow mediating the settlement of the conflict with Baku.

Armenian officials have commented on mediation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement by third countries, including Russia, before, he said.

There was a follow-up question as to whether Russia was excluded from negotiations on the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace agreement. "We have heard statements made on various levels and saying that, actually, there was no need for intermediaries, as Yerevan and Baku were able to continue the negotiations themselves and finalize the process," Peskov said.

The Armenian parliament speaker explained his remark, saying, "The past experience left a lot of bad memories and it still causes pain to Armenians."