ArmInfo. Moscow is skeptical about the French mediation to normalize relations between Yerevan and Baku
On August 30, during a weekly briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, when asked to comment on the statement of French President Emmanuel Macron that Paris would come up with a new diplomatic initiative to resolve the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, in particular, said:
"On the one hand, we have repeatedly said that we welcome any initiatives that do not run counter to Russia's efforts to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, that do not duplicate, let alone undermine these efforts."
On the other hand, according to her, France's activity in this area of Russia is well known.
"And what is no less important in such mediation efforts is that you just need to take into account, first of all, the position of both sides of the conflict, that is, both Armenia and Azerbaijan. And without this, count on any progress in resolving the situation, which is already quite heated "It's not worth it. These are the Alpha and Omega of any mediation," Zakharova summed up.
"I will have an opportunity to speak this week with [Armenian] Prime Minister Pashinian and with [Azerbaijani] President Ilham Aliyev," French President Emmanuel Macron told French ambassadors to countries around the world.
"We will demand full respect for the Lachin humanitarian corridor and we will again take a diplomatic initiative in this direction internationally to increase the pressure," he said in remarks cited by French media.