ArmInfo.The situation in the region and the tasks set by you and Russian President Vladimir Putin in relation to bilateral ties require more frequent communication, which takes place at all levels. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this at a meeting with the President of Azerbaijan.
"We are fully committed to the implementation of the agreements on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement in accordance with the statement of the three leaders on November 9, 2020 and the results of your face-to-face meeting in Moscow on January 11 this year. The Russian peacekeeping contingent is carrying out the tasks that you agreed upon during these contacts with the leadership of Russia and Armenia. We are grateful for the high assessment of the role of our peacekeepers. We will do everything so that everyone proceeds from the assumption that the military aspects are closed. Now we need to deal with the details "on the ground", issues related to delimitation and demarcation. Not everything is simple, but solvable. Military experts with the participation of diplomats can agree on mutually acceptable solutions, "the Russian minister said. He added that the Interdepartmental Center for Humanitarian Response is working. "The Russian Emergencies Ministry and its colleagues from Azerbaijan are helping to resolve humanitarian issues, to restore housing, transport infrastructure. The process is underway, people should feel real improvements" on the ground. "The Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, within the framework of the Working Group created by the leaders of the three countries, regularly meet, consider practical aspects related to the agreement of the heads of state on unblocking economic and transport communications in the South Caucasus. This is associated with very substantive comparisons of various routes. Taking into account the need to achieve a balance of interests of all South Caucasian states and their neighbors - and this is a potentially serious transport hub that will have value far beyond the regional boundaries - there is no doubt that we can significantly reinforce our common position in today's global economy and supply chain, " said the chief diplomat of Russia.
Lavrov stressed that Russia is sincerely interested in the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. "We believe that joint work to focus on the economic aspects of overcoming the protracted conflict creates an optimal framework for this. We want to help resolve issues related to the humanitarian consequences of the war in the most constructive way: prisoners of war, prevention of abuse of historical and religious heritage. UNESCO as an organization responsible for the preservation of international cultural heritage, takes an interest in these efforts. We are ready to help create conditions that will make this possible. There are other international organizations ready to help. Agreements on this should also take into account the position of the interested parties, "the Russian Foreign Minister said.
If we talk about the general context of relations, Lavrov continued, then at this stage, as in any other conflict and post-conflict situation, there are aspects related to the projection of everything that is happening on the internal political processes. "I agree with you that the rhetoric, which introduces an unfriendly character, does not help. We will strive to contribute to ensuring that the agreements reached by the two Presidents and the Prime Minister of Armenia are implemented in conditions conducive to a constructive result. We will exchange views on the processes of post-conflict settlement in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. We will be ready to encourage our companies in every possible way to participate in restoration work and in planned programs. We will discuss broader regional issues, Caspian issues on the basis of decisions that allowed us to sign the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. We have a huge number of joint activities in the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, BSEC. I would like to express my gratitude to you as the head of state, which is currently chairing the Non-Aligned Movement, for supporting our application for observer status in this structure, "the Russian Foreign Minister summed up.