Preconditions for Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement available -  Vladimir Putin

ArmInfo. Prolonging Russian peacekeepers' presence in Karabakh requires joint agreements, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated at a news briefing following the  meeting of the Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Sochi, Russia. 

"As regards the peacekeepers, the relevant point is contained in our  joint statement of November 2020, after the conflict was ended.  Nothing can be added here," Putin said. 

"It depends on the signing of a peace agreement and on border  delimitation and demarcation. If the issues are settled, the one of  peacekeepers will be raised in a different way. If these issues are  not settled or settled on a different scale, it will decide the fate  of the Russian peacekeepers. In any case, both the sides are grateful  to Russia for the work we are doing there," Putin said.

He said that no peace agreement has yet been signed by Armenia and  Azerbaijan. 

"It is yet too early to speak of the main components of the document  as it is a subject of ideal compromises the parties have to reach  through mediation, if both the parties apply for it, including to our  country. Border delimitation and demarcation is an all-important  issue. We have talked much about it today. There are some signs that  the way has in general been found. If you read today's statement with  attention, you will find preliminary assessments there - at least the  preconditions for possible signing of agreements. We are ready to  provide the maps of the Soviet General Staff at our disposal. These  are the most accurate maps. And we are ready to progress on this  basis, with discussions with both the sides. We have agreed to  continue the contacts, talks and consultations," Putin said.