Zakharova: Despite the current escalation, work on the preparation of  a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan did not stop

ArmInfo. Despite the current escalation of tension, the analysis by experts of what  happened, the work on the preparation of a peace treaty between  Armenia and Azerbaijan did not stop. And that's probably the top  priority. This was stated during a weekly briefing by official  representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova,  referring to the reasons for the escalation of the situation and the  possibilities for reconciliation of the parties.

At the same time, she stressed that the Russian side is providing the  necessary assistance. In this vein, the diplomat recalled that Igor  Khovayev, special representative of the Russian Foreign Minister for  the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, made  visits to Yerevan and Baku. According to her, the main topic of the  meeting in both capitals was the discussion of the draft peace  treaty.

"We are striving to bring the positions of the parties closer, and I  assure you that efforts will be continued," the Russian diplomat  said.

"As for the ways of reconciliation, I repeat that Moscow proceeds  from the fact that trilateral agreements at the level of the leaders  of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia remain the basis for the settlement  in the region," she said.  She also recalled that that in its  September 13 statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry presented its  position regarding the latest escalation at the border in detail.

"After the first ceasefire agreement, there were skirmishes again,  unfortunately. Yesterday a new agreement was reached. We hope that it  will be respected. We again call on the parties to resolve all  problems through political and diplomatic means, including within the  framework of the bilateral commission on the delimitation of the  Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the work of which is being carried out  with the assistance of Russia," Zakharova summed up.