Russian Foreign Ministry on priorities of its activities in South  Caucasus

ArmInfo.Russia is intensively working to overcome the conflict potential accumulated in the South Caucasus. This is stated in the response of the Russian  Foreign Ministry to a question received at a press conference  following the results of the activities of Russian diplomacy in 2022.

Thus, in response to a request to outline Russia's strategic plan in  the Transcaucasus and Moscow's goals in this region for a five-year  period, the Russian Foreign Ministry recalled that Moscow is  connected with the Transcaucasian republics by a common history,  spiritual and cultural closeness, and strong bonds of friendship  between peoples.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that Russia, which directly  borders the South Caucasus, is interested in the stability and  prosperity of this region, the mutually beneficial use and disclosure  of its transport, logistics, trade, investment, and technological  opportunities.

"The efforts of our diplomacy are aimed at this. We are intensively  working to overcome the conflict potential accumulated in the region.  In this regard, one of the priority tasks is the normalization of  Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. The statements of the leaders of  Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia dated November 9, 2020,  January 11,  November 26, 2021 and October 31, 2022, serve as the foundation. We  are convinced that the success of the process depends entirely on  strict adherence to these tripartite agreements," the Russian Foreign  Ministry stressed.

The ministry added that, more broadly, Moscow remains committed to  existing and emerging multilateral negotiation formats.

"We are ready to continue constructive interaction within the  framework of the International Geneva Discussions on Security and  Stability in the Transcaucasus, ensuring a direct equal dialogue  between Georgia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We aim to promote the  work of the 3+3 Consultative Regional Platform launched in December  2021 (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, as well as Russia, Iran and  Turkey).

We consider this platform, where it is planned to focus on practical  issues of strengthening cooperation in the interests of regional  players, useful and timely," the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.

Regarding the issue of normalizing relations between Ankara and  Yerevan, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that it was under Russian  auspices that this undertaking was launched in January 2022, when  special representatives of Armenia R. Rubinyan and Turkey S. Kilic  met for the first time in Moscow.

"We maintain close contact with both of them today. We welcome the  latest developments that open up prospects for the restoration of  Armenian-Turkish ties, which will contribute to further improvement  of the regional situation," the Russian Foreign Ministry concluded.