Wednesday, May 15 2024 11:51

ArmInfo. Russian peacekeepers did the main thing that should not be forgotten: they brought peace  and stability to the conflict region, Russian Deputy FM Mikhail Galuzin said this in an interview with NEWS.ru regarding the role of the RMK in Artsakh.

Galuzin recalled that the Russian peacekeeping contingent (RMC) was  introduced immediately after the ceasefire and hostilities on the  basis of a trilateral statement by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan  and Armenia dated November 9, 2020.

"Thanks, among other things, to their efforts, the necessary  conditions were created so that the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides  could begin discussing and launching the main normalization tracks:  unblocking transport communications, border delimitation, developing  a peace treaty, developing contacts through civil societies. For all  of them Work in these areas, albeit at different speeds, is moving  forward," says Galuzin.

He recalled that according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, RMK  forces cleared more than 689 kilometers of roads, checked 1,940  buildings, and found and neutralized 26,794 explosive objects. The  functioning of 31 socially significant facilities, 40 kilometers of  communication lines and 20 kilometers of gas pipelines was ensured.

"With the participation of peacekeepers, over 222 tons of  humanitarian aid were delivered to the local population. An exchange  of detainees and prisoners of war was organized, 213 people were  returned, including 189 to Armenia, 24 to Azerbaijan.

Medical units of the RMK conducted 15 humanitarian and medical raids  into remote areas of the region.  224 houses, 95 kilometers of power  lines, 33 kilometers of fiber optic communication lines, 32  kilometers of water pipelines, 42 kilometers of gas pipelines, and 36  transformer substations have been restored.

As is known, as a result of the clashes on September 19-20, 2023,  Nagorno-Karabakh came under the full control of Baku. Thanks to  Russian efforts, including at the cost of the lives of six of our  peacekeepers, significant civilian casualties were avoided," the  Russian diplomat noted.

According to him, with the active mediation of the RCC, on September  20, 2023, within literally one day, an agreement was reached to cease  hostilities and negotiations began between representatives of the  Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Azerbaijani  authorities.

"Our peacekeepers provided shelter for civilians, delivered  humanitarian aid, and organized medical evacuations.

The mentioned September events did not happen in a vacuum. The  Armenian authorities recognized the territorial integrity of  Azerbaijan, including Nagorno-Karabakh within it, at a summit under  the auspices of the EU in October 2022 in Prague. At the same time,  Yerevan did not inform us. The issue of ensuring the rights and  security of the Armenian population of the region was not discussed  then.

Of course, this decision of the Armenian leadership regarding  Nagorno-Karabakh radically changed the fundamental conditions under  which the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020 was signed, and it  directly affected the activities of the RMK," Galuzin concluded.

Earlier it became known about the complete withdrawal of Russian  peacekeepers from Artsakh. Moscow argued this by saying that due to  the absence of an Armenian population in Artsakh, there was no longer  a need for the RMC.