Lavrov on the processes in the zone of the Karabakh conflict: Not  everything is simple, but solvable

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.