Russian, Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs could meet at CIS Summit in  Bishkek - Moscow 

ArmInfo. Moscow is considering the possibility of a meeting between the foreign ministers of the Russian Federation, Armenia and Azerbaijan on October 12 in Bishkek on the sidelines of the CIS summit. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Mikhail Galuzin stated this in an interview with RBC.

"The dialogue between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on the entire  range of issues of resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict has  never been interrupted. We hope that such contacts will continue. We  are considering the possibility of holding such discussions at the  level of foreign ministers on October 12 this year in Bishkek on the  sidelines of the summit events CIS," he noted.

According to him, the Azerbaijani side has already given agreement in  principle. "And we expect that the Armenian side will also approach  this issue responsibly and agree to participate in such  negotiations," Galuzin added.

Regarding Western mediation, the Russian diplomat expressed the  conviction that it is up to Armenia and Azerbaijan to decide in what  composition it is more convenient for them to conduct discussions.  "As we see, the European Union is not so much concerned with a  settlement as with pushing Russia out of the region. And I see this  as part of a common Western course to achieve the unattainable - what  they are trying to call the international isolation of Russia. This  is one of the manifestations of this course.

Russia has been making efforts to resolve this long-standing conflict  for many, many years. In the fall of 2020, we were key mediators in  developing tripartite agreements. All tracks that were outlined in  these agreements were taken up by the European Union and the United  States. But in such a way as if Russia has nothing to do with them.  Discussions followed at the so-called Brussels platform, where the  Armenian leadership radically changed its position and recognized  Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, without remembering the rights and  safety of the Karabakh Armenians. And the European Union, instead of  helping the settlement, and not using our developments in its own  opportunistic interests, accuses Russia of all mortal sins in the  context of the events of September 19," Galuzin said.

At the same time, he added that the West declares its readiness to  provide a platform, but at the same time completely ignores the  wishes of other participants. "That is, the European Union considers  it possible for itself to dictate to others who can participate and  who cannot. This is an absolutely mentoring, colonial tactic that  ignores the legitimate rights and interests of other participants in  international communication.  And these, as you know, are equal  sovereign states, because the principle of sovereign equality is  enshrined in the UN Charter," said the Deputy Foreign Minister of the  Russian Federation.

To clarify whether the European Union, the United States and Russia  could still work together on the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict zone, taking into account the meeting in Istanbul of  representatives of the three countries, Galuzin said that they could,  but on the understanding that the European Union and the United  States would not intercept Russian developments and pass them off as  their own, but will fit their actions into the modalities of the  Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement that have already been worked out  between the parties through the mediation of Russia.

"It is from this angle that we approach contacts with the European  Union and the United States on this issue.

I don't agree with you that we are talking about some kind of  competition. There are modalities for a peaceful settlement developed  between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2020 and in the next two  years.  And if the European Union and the United States want to help  implement them, then, of course, we will not oppose this. But if we  are talking about taking advantage of Russian developments and acting  without Russia, it is clear that such an approach cannot suit us,"  the Russian diplomat emphasized.

Regarding the feasibility of signing a peace agreement between  Yerevan and Baku by the end of 2023, Galuzin drew attention to the  fact that diplomacy and mathematics do not always go together, so I  would not talk now about any percentages, shares and the like.

"The preparation and signing of a peace treaty is one of the  important parts of the "road map" for resolving the  Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, which was developed by the leaders of  Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. We have always been and remain ready  to help Azerbaijan and Armenia in developing this document on a  mutually acceptable basis basis, so that it truly is a document that  guarantees a sustainable, balanced, long-term peaceful settlement  between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

We proceed from the need to clearly establish in the peace treaty the  topic of ensuring reliable rights and security for the Armenian  population of Karabakh and presented the parties with certain ideas  in this regard. We hope that they will be in demand, just as our  point of view that we need mechanisms to support the further  implementation of the signed peace treaty will be in demand. Such a  mechanism that would not harm the sovereignty and independence of  Armenia and Azerbaijan," he said.