Thursday, April 4 2019 16:39

ArmInfo.Russia has always played and continues to play the most active role in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Official representative of the Ministry of  Foreign Affairs of Russia Maria Zakharova stated, in an interview  with the <ONA>, Azerbaijani news agency.  She stressed that Moscow is  well aware of how painful the Karabakh issue remains for Azerbaijan.

"We are vitally interested in peace and stability to come to our  neighboring region. Therefore, Russia has always played and continues  to play the most active role in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh  problem," Zakharova said, recalling that it was with the direct  mediation of the Russian Federation 25 years ago, in May 1994, an  agreement was reached on a cease-fire, which made it possible to stop  massive bloodshed.

She is convinced that the adoption of the Moscow Declaration in 2008  was an important stage on the path of the Karabakh settlement. "This  is the first and so far the only settlement document signed by the  leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia. It clearly formulated the parties'  intention to ensure the establishment of stability and security in  the region through a political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict based on the principles and norms of international law, "  said the Russian diplomat, adding that the large-scale hostilities  that unfolded in April 2016, were able to be suspended thanks to an  agreement reached in Moscow and the level of chiefs of general staffs  of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

A representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry also noted that  since then, relative calm has been established at the border and the  Line of Contact. "At the meeting of the presidents of Russia, Armenia  and Azerbaijan that followed in June in St. Petersburg, the  importance of regular contacts in a trilateral format was noted and  an agreement was reached to continue them in addition to the work of  the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. In general, with the direct  participation of the Russian leadership more than twenty meetings of  the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia. In addition to a political  settlement, issues were discussed and decisions were made related to  reducing tensions between the parties, exchanging prisoners and  bodies of dead servicemen, and organizing humanitarian contacts, "she  said.

At the same time, she assured that in the Concept of Russian Foreign  Policy assistance to the parties in the Karabakh settlement is among  the most important foreign policy priorities. According to her, this  circumstance attaches special importance to the mediation activity  that is being carried out, determines the increased attention to its  results.

"We work in close cooperation with other states - co-chairmen of the  OSCE Minsk Group. As for your question about changing political  leadership in Yerevan, this is Armenia's internal affair. The  negotiation process on the Karabakh settlement is underway. The  parties demonstrate their intention to continue work aimed at  achieving a peaceful settlement. This spirit, in particular, was  recorded in a statement made following the recent meeting of I.  Aliyev and N. Pashinyan in Vienna. We welcome the constructive  approach, the possessed at the talks. We will provide the parties  with the necessary assistance to realize the ideas on which  understanding was achieved in the Austrian capital. However, as the  presidents of the co- chair countries have repeatedly stressed, the  responsibility for putting an end to the conflict lies with those  involved in it There is a basis for this. The main thing is to show  political will ", the official representative of the Ministry of  Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation added.

At the same time, she also pointed out that the Concept of the  country's foreign policy, approved by the Russian president, clearly  defines the goals, objectives and priorities of the work, including  with reference to the South Caucasus. "This region, of course,  belongs to the sphere of particularly important interests of Russia.  First of all, this is due to geographic proximity. Obviously, the  significance of the South Caucasus is in a wide geopolitical context.  As a most serious military-political challenge for Russia, we  consider the actions of the USA and NATO on <military development> of  Transcaucasia. And, of course, it is impossible not to say about the  unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in which, unfortunately, our  two closest friends and partners are involved - Azerbaijan and  Armenia. Maintaining stability in the South Caucasus, ensuring the  progressive development of the region with the friendly attitude of  its countries towards Russia will continue to be one of the most  important goals of Russian foreign policy," Zakharova summarized.