Inclusive dialogue within "3+3" platform and countering of  extra-regional forces` geopolitical dictatorship key to the  prosperity of South Caucasus - Mikhail Galuzin

ArmInfo. We welcome the holding of negotiations between the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and  Armenia on a peace treaty on May 10 and 11 in Almaty. Another step has been taken towards achieving reliable and long-term peace and stability in the South Caucasus, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Galuzin stated in an interview with NEWS.ru in response to a request to assess the prospects of Astana  becoming a new negotiating platform for the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement.

Kazakhstan provided a platform for bilateral negotiations between  Yerevan and Baku on the normalization of relations. Negotiations took  place on May 10-11 in Almaty.

"We fully support Astana's efforts in this direction. If we look at  history, Kazakhstan made a significant contribution to the  development and adoption of the Zheleznovodsk Declaration in  September 1991 - one of the first serious attempts to end the  military confrontation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. It is  important that contacts in Almaty are in line with the trilateral  agreements at the highest level for 2020- 2022, which determined the  roadmap for normalizing relations between Baku and Yerevan," the  Russian diplomat added.

Regarding the deployment of European observers in Armenia, Galuzin  recalled that Moscow has repeatedly commented on this topic.

"Unfortunately, our fears have been confirmed - the EU observation  mission in Armenia has actually turned into a paramilitary Western  operation with the involvement of NATO member countries and dubious  goals.  Its staff has already been at least doubled, new strongholds  are opening. Just recently, Yerevan was An agreement was imposed on  the status of the EU presence, granting it most favored nation  treatment and freedom of action on Armenian territory.

The fact that the mission is an instrument of the EU's hybrid war  confirms its secrecy, lack of accountability, and lack of control by  either Armenia, Azerbaijan, or other interested countries and  structures. The mission conducts openly provocative activities, is  fully engaged in anti-Russian propaganda, instilling false ideas in  the Armenian society about the European Union as a "source of  security and prosperity" for Armenia. Moreover, the EU's activities  are becoming increasingly anti- Azerbaijani and anti-Iranian in  nature," the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister expressed confidence.

According to him, if we talk about the tasks of ensuring long-term  regional security, stability and socio- economic development, then  the plans of Westerners to militarize the region and expand the  military- political influence of the EU and NATO there are completely  inconsistent with them.  "The key to the prosperity of the South  Caucasus is an inclusive dialogue, in particular within the framework  of the 3+3 consultative regional platform, the search for collective  answers to emerging issues and countering the geopolitical dictates  of extra-regional forces," he added.

When asked how Russia relates to the so-called "Zangezur Corridor,"  Galuzin noted that Moscow uses this term (Azerbaijani narrative -  ed.).

"Russia does not stand for the creation of any one specific route,  but for the complete unblocking of economic and transport  communications in the South Caucasus. This is what the trilateral  working group (TWG), created in 2021 by decision of the leaders of  Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, under the joint chairmanship of the  Vice-Chairman, is doing. -the prime ministers of three countries,"  added the deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

In this vein, he recalled that rhythmic work was carried out in the  TWG, and significant results were achieved. Thus, at the 12th meeting  of the group in June 2023, a common understanding was agreed on the  restoration and organization of railway communication between Armenia  and Azerbaijan.

"We have almost reached a comprehensive, balanced agreement. However,  the process has stalled through no fault of ours. Under pressure from  Western countries, Yerevan decided to freeze trilateral cooperation  on this track as well.

We consider it necessary to resume full-fledged work of the TWG as  soon as possible, not only to unblock the transport and communication  system of the South Caucasus, but also to establish sustainable peace  in the region," concluded Galuzin.

The Meghri route is a project of a transport route about 40 km long  through the territory of the Syunik region of Armenia, which would  provide transport links between the western regions of Azerbaijan and  its exclave Nakhijevan Autonomous Republic. The opening of transport  routes in the region was provided for by the agreements that ended  the 44-day Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh in the fall of  2020.  However, Azerbaijan is trying to obtain an extraterritorial  corridor from Armenia by applying pressure.