Monday, March 20 2023 17:40

ArmInfo.We invariably value friendly relations with Armenia.  On March 20, opening negotiations with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Russian Foreign  Minister Sergey Lavrov stated.

In this vein, he recalled that they recently met on the sidelines of  the summit in New Delhi.

"We note the ongoing intensive political dialogue between our  leaders, including within the framework of events under the auspices  of the EAEU, the CSTO, the CIS. A meeting of the Supreme Eurasian  Economic Council will be held this May," he said.

Lavrov recalled that at the moment Russia is the leading trading  partner and investor in the Armenian economy. In this vein, he noted  that last year was a record one, trade almost doubled, reaching  almost $5 billion. "For the time being, we count in dollars, all this  is temporary. This helped your country ensure record GDP growth,  growth in business activity," he said, pointing to Moscow's interest  in strengthening a single educational, scientific, linguistic space,  humanitarian ties, and contacts between regions.

"We will devote considerable time to regional security. One of the  priorities is to resolve the situation around the Lachin corridor,  and in general around Nagorno-Karabakh. We have no doubt that the  tripartite statements by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and  Azerbaijan remain the key to the implementation of all decisions to  stabilize the situation in the economic, military-political and  international legal sectors. We will be ready to provide all possible  assistance in unblocking transport communications, delimitation, and  agreeing on a peace treaty between Yerevan and Baku," Lavrov  stressed.

In turn, Mirzoyan expressed his conviction that during the talks  there will be an opportunity to discuss and note the high level of  political dialogue, the growth of economic ties, the deepening of  bilateral relations in all aspects from cultural and humanitarian to  interaction at the regional level of the two countries. In this  regard, the Armenian minister declared Yerevan's readiness to deepen  and build up mutually beneficial cooperation between the two  countries.

"As for the situation in the region, to our regret, it is being  further exacerbated by the aggressive rhetoric of Azerbaijan at the  highest level and by military provocations not only against  Nagorno-Karabakh, but also against the sovereign territory of  Armenia.

The blocking of the Berdzor (Lachin) corridor by Azerbaijan in  violation of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, as well as  targeted interruptions in the supply of energy resources to Nagorno-  Karabakh, leave no questions about the motives of official Baku - the  implementation of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh," the minister  noted.

According to Mirzoyan, against this background, the imperative to  implement the agreements reached and unblock the Berdzor corridor in  strict accordance with the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020  and the implementation of the decision of the International Court of  Justice on provisional measures against Azerbaijan of February 22 of  this year stands out.

"Unfortunately, in practice, there is not a single point in the  November 9 Statement that Azerbaijan did not violate. Systematic  violation of the ceasefire, occupation of the territories of the  Republic of Armenia, illegal blocking of the Lachin corridor, holding  Armenian prisoners of war, preventing the opening of regional  communications, preventing the launch of the mechanism the return of  Armenian residents to their places of residence, which came under the  control of Azerbaijan. Moreover, the Azerbaijani side, with its  constant provocation, torpedoes efforts to establish long-term peace  and stability in the region," he said. In this context, Mirzoyan  pointed out the need for active steps on the part of the allies and  partners of the Republic of Armenia in order for Azerbaijan to  fulfill its obligations and stop the practice of using force or the  threat of force, in violation of the norms and principles of  international law.

In conclusion, he expressed hope that during the meeting it would be  possible to discuss all the above imentioned ssues.