Moscow concerned over attempts to draw South Caucasus into  geopolitical confrontation - Sergey Kopirkin

ArmInfo. As before, Russia is now acting as a sovereign state with an independent foreign policy,  viewing itself as an important international actor aiming at facilitating the formation of a really democratic system of international relations based on states' equality and consideration and conciliation of their interests, as well as on the principle of indivisible security, Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin stated in an interview with Iravunk. 

According to him, it is the violation of this principle by the West -  the United States and its allies - for decades that is the major  cause of the current global developments. 

Mr Kopirkin stressed that Russia attaches high importance to  relations with Armenia. 

"We are attaching high importance to the development of relations  with many states sharing our approach to the international relations  system," he said. According to him, most states share this view,  which creates favorable conditions for Russia's active policy. 

Russian is perfectly aware of its role as one of the key guarantors  of regional and global stability and security. 

"Evidence thereof is Russia's policy in the South Caucasus, including  our relations with Armenia. Along with continuity we should also take  new realities into account," Mr Kopirkin said. 

As to the West's attempts of squeeze Russia out of the region and  establish control over the negotiations for normalization of  Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, the Russian diplomat said that  Russia's priority in the South Caucasus is peace and stability,  normalization of relations between the states in the region and use  of its potential. 

"And Russia is ready to support all the steps toward this goal.  Ensuring peace and stability in the South Caucasus is of vital  importance for Russia's interests. This is the reason for Russia's  active involvement in the regional processes, primarily in the  normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, settlement of the  Nagornpo-Karabakh conflict. And Russia is doing very much for that,"  Mr Kopirkin said as he recalled the latest Russia-brokered trilateral  Armenian-Azerbaijani meetings at different levels.  

According to Mr Kopirkin, clear is the Russian peacekeeping troops'  role in Nagorno-Karabakh - ensuring stability and security of the  local Armenian population and preventing escalation. 

Russia is supporting any steps and initiatives really facilitating  the establishment of regional peace.  Russia's position is that the  trilateral agreements by the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian  leaders of November 9, 2020, are the only basis for defusing the  regional tension.  

"However, we are concerned over the attempts to draw the South  Caucasus into geopolitical confrontation, which creates serious  problems for a real settlement in the interests of the peoples of the  region, not of the foreign forces that are guided by their own  geopolitical interests," Mr Kopirkin said.  

Elaborating on the Russian peace-keeping troops' activities, he said: 

"At present I do not see any force capable of performing this role in  Nagorno-Karabakh. In the context of prospects, deploying peacekeeping  troops requires all the parties' consent. Given international  experience, I would not be too enthusiastic about the peacekeeping  potential of various international structures.  International  presence is far from being a panacea and does not always solve  problems. I would be more realistic," Mr Kopirkin said. 

Moscow is ready to contribute to an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace  agreement. 

"It is up to the parties to decide on the agenda and progress of the  talks. The parties should seek agreements that would be acceptable to  both of them, that is, agreements that would facilitate the  establishment of long- lasting and durable peace," Mr Kopirkin said. 

As to the prospects for unblocking of regional transport links, Mr  Kopirkin pointed out progress and that the parties are close to  reaching agreements. 

"The trilateral workgroup co-chaired by the Russian, Armenian and  Azerbaijani vice-premiers is actively working to ensure the  unblocking of regional transport links," the Russian ambassador said. 

In commenting on attempts to incite anti-Russian sentiments in  Armenia, Mr Kopirkin said such attempts are being made. 

"Despite all the difficulties, our countries are determined to  maintain our allied relations," he said. 

"As to some forces' attempts to drive a wedge into our relations, yes  we are living in a real world and we realize that such attempts are  being made. But it is the will of our peoples and leaders that plays  a decisive role," Mr Kopirkin said.