Russian Deputy FM,  Azerbaijani Ambassador had conversation after  resonant statements of official Baku against Moscow

ArmInfo. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Andrei Rudenko and  Azerbaijani Ambassador to the Russian Federation Polad Bulbuloglu discussed the situation in the South Caucasus, the process of reconciliation between Baku and Yerevan at a meeting on July 17.

According to the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the  Russian side confirmed the need for a complete and immediate opening  of the Kashatagh (Lachin) corridor, the resumption of transport links  along it in both directions in accordance with the tripartite  Statement of November 9, 2020, as well as the creation of conditions  for the normal life support of the Nagorny Karabakh.

"In connection with the incorrect comments of the Azerbaijani Foreign  Ministry regarding the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry  dated July 15 this year, it was emphasized that the Russian  Federation has always respected and treats the territorial integrity  of the Republic of Azerbaijan, is fully committed to the spirit and  letter of the bilateral Declaration on allied cooperation.

At the same time, this does not cancel the task of comprehensively  promoting the process of Armenian- Azerbaijani normalization,  resolving all issues on the agenda, including ensuring the rights and  security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, exclusively by  peaceful political and diplomatic methods," the Russian Foreign  Ministry stressed.

The Russian side confirmed its readiness to organize a trilateral  meeting of foreign ministers in Moscow in the near future to discuss  ways to implement the agreements at the highest level, including the  issue of agreeing on a peace treaty, followed by a summit of the  leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in Moscow to sign the said  document.

"The meeting was held in a mutually respectful and constructive  environment," the Russian Foreign Ministry concluded.

Earlier, as ArmInfo already reported, on July 15, the Russian Foreign  Ministry issued a statement in which it accused Yerevan of deviating  from the essence of trilateral agreements and called on Baku to lift  the blockade of the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia and the  outside world. At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry  announced its readiness to organize a trilateral meeting of foreign  ministers in Moscow in the near future to discuss ways to implement  agreements at the highest level, including the topic of agreeing on a  peace treaty, followed by the Russian-Azerbaijani-Armenian summit in  Moscow to sign the said document. 

The Armenian Foreign Ministry said today that they did not receive  proposals from the Russian side to hold a meeting in Moscow.

We add that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of  Azerbaijan, reacting to Moscow's statement, noted that it "causes  bewilderment and disappointment and does not correspond to the  Declaration on Allied Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia and  the speeches of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which support the  territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, including  Karabakh".

Baku considered "unacceptable the Russian Foreign Ministry's  interpretation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of  Azerbaijan in the context of the fact that Karabakh was recognized as  an integral part of Azerbaijan by the Prime Minister of Armenia."

The statement notes that the Azerbaijani side is taking practical  steps to promote a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan and has  always demonstrated adherence to the tripartite statements signed  between Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia. With the same cynicism, Baku  accused the RPC of failing to fulfill the agreements of the  tripartite statements, which are allegedly violated by Yerevan, and  considered unfounded "attempts to politicize the issue of  establishing a checkpoint on the only road connecting Artsakh with  Armenia and allegations of a tense humanitarian situation in the  region".