Friday, April 5 2024 22:23

ArmInfo. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement in connection with the high- level meeting in the  Armenia-US-EU format. 

It states, in part: "We consider the high-level meeting in the  Armenia-US-EU format that took place on April 5, 2024 in Brussels as  another attempt by the "collective West" to drag the South Caucasus  into a geopolitical confrontation. Irresponsible and destructive  interference of extra-regional forces in the affairs of the South  Caucasus, the desire to drive a wedge between the countries of the  region and their neighbors can result in the most negative  consequences for stability, security and economic development in the  region, provoke the emergence of new dividing lines, as well as an  uncontrollable increase in tension.

It is obvious that the West wants to turn Armenia into an instrument  for the implementation of its extremely dangerous plans in the South  Caucasus. We know that Washington and Brussels - under ephemeral  promises - are seeking Armenia's withdrawal from the CSTO and the  EAEU, the withdrawal of the Russian military base and border guards.  We call on the leadership in Yerevan not to allow the West to deceive  itself and lead the country down the wrong path, which is fraught  with the emergence of a security vacuum, serious problems in the  economy and outflow of population. The volumes of grant support  announced in Brussels cannot be compared with the multibillion-dollar  benefits that Armenia continues to receive from interaction with  Moscow and within the EAEU and the CIS. It is these factors that in  recent years have ensured a multiple increase in trade turnover  (4-fold since 2018) and, as a result, record economic growth and an  increase in the well-being of the population.

We confirm our commitment to comprehensively deepen and expand  relations with Armenia on the principles enshrined in the fundamental  bilateral documents and agreements through common integration  associations. We are convinced that the progressive development of  the Russian-Armenian alliance will contribute to the realization of  the fundamental interests of the peoples of Russia and Armenia,  strengthening regional security and stability.

The West is also not abandoning attempts to destroy the fundamental  basis of the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization - a set of trilateral  statements by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan for 2020-  2022, providing for measures to open transport and economic ties,  delimitate the border, prepare a peace treaty, strengthen trust  through contacts between social activists and experts. It was under  pressure from Washington and Brussels that official Yerevan suspended  the implementation of these agreements, on many of which, in  particular on the issue of lifting the mutual transport blockade, the  parties were close to mutually acceptable solutions. Moscow remains  ready to assist in every possible way in achieving the long- awaited  peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Problematic issues of both a regional and bilateral nature in the  South Caucasus must be resolved in accordance with the principle of  "regional responsibility", agreed upon during the second meeting of  the 3+3Consultative Platform  on October 23, 2023 in Tehran, of which  Armenia was also a participant. We call on external players to  respect these agreements, and the authorities in Yerevan, when  building their foreign policy line, to take into account the concerns  of neighboring states.