Zakharova: The wording of the Russian Foreign Minister on  Nagorno-Karabakh in Yerevan was crystal clear

ArmInfo. The wording of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Nagorno-Karabakh in Yerevan was crystal clear. This was announced on November 14 during a weekly briefing by the official representative of the Russian Foreign  Ministry, Maria Zakharova, answering a question regarding the  statement of Lavrov that final settlement of the conflict cannot be  achieved without the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, and who falls under  this wording.

At the same time, Zakharova added, since the question is very  delicate and with various nuances, she will once again clarify the  wording. On the whole, referring to the visit of Russian Foreign  Minister Sergey Lavrov to Yerevan, she noted that the visit was quite  open and transparent. "Of course, there was a traditionally closed  part of the negotiations. But, on the whole, all the points of the  visit's program were open and transparent, I think nothing should  have escaped your view," she said, adding that it was a great idea to  hold an exhibition, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Victory in  the Great Patriotic War, as well as the performance of two ministers  at the opening of the exhibition. According to her, Lavrov also held  a meeting with students, and this format has a great prospect, since  we are talking about live communication.  "The visit began with the  Victory exhibition and ended victoriously," Zakharova concluded.  On  November 11 in Yerevan, Lavrov noted that the final settlement of the  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be acceptable to Armenia,  Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. Touching upon the return of Artsakh  to the negotiating table to resolve the conflict, the head of the  Russian Foreign Ministry recalled that the parties themselves agree  on the format as well as the composition.

In this context, he recalled that at the initial stage,  Nagorno-Karabakh participated in the negotiations, but at some point  one of the previous Armenian presidents decided that Yerevan would  represent the interests of Karabakh. "In any case, we, as members of  a group of co-chairs, promoting this process, ensure that it goes  within a general agreement. And it is clear to everyone that without  the consent of the people, the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, it  will be impossible to finalize agreements. Armenia simply will not  sign them. Here we proceed from this, "Lavrov emphasized. At the same  time, he noted that at the meeting, the Prime Minister of Armenia  Nikol Pashinyan mentioned his public statement that the final  agreements should take into account the interests of Armenia,  Karabakh and Azerbaijan. "It's hard to argue with that," said the  head of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Speaking about the principles  of the Karabakh conflict settlement, Lavrov once again emphasized the  need to take into account the interests of Armenia, Nagorno- Karabakh  and Azerbaijan.

According to him, the principles of territorial integrity, the right  of peoples to self-determination and peaceful settlement are  enshrined in all the options that are being discussed between the  parties. "The final decision must take into account all principles.  No one can argue with this. The rest is a matter of negotiation. The  art of diplomacy is a compromise. We, as co-chairs, try to ensure  that the compromises are honest and reflect a real balance of  interests," Lavrov concluded.