Conversation between Armenia, Russia FMs in Moscow was frank, but  much remained behind closed doors - Zakharova

ArmInfo. The conversation between the heads of the Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Russia in  Moscow on November 17 was frank, but not everything was on  video camera, much remained behind closed doors.

This was stated by Maria  Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign  Ministry, during a weekly briefing on January 23.  The Russian  diplomat mentioned that the Russian Foreign Ministry had released  detailed information regarding both the meeting's content and the  negotiation results.

When asked if there is hope for a positive outcome in the relations  between Yerevan and Moscow, Zakharova, in particular, said: "Never  lose it." When asked about the relevance of the statement by Russian  Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk that the process of Armenia's  European integration will lead to its automatic exclusion from the  EAEU, Zakharova noted that the question of relevance or irrelevance  could be raised if it were a politicized position or an exclusively  politically formulated and declared position.

Touching upon the policy of the new US administration in the South  Caucasus, the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry noted  that it is difficult to make any predictions on this issue. "The  experience of past years shows that attempts by extra-regional  countries - primarily the United States and the European Union - to  interfere in the affairs of the region have not led to anything good.  We have repeatedly stated that the real roadmap for reconciliation  and a sustainable, strong, stable peace between Baku and Yerevan is  reflected in the complex of trilateral statements made by the leaders  of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, from 2020 to 2022," the diplomat  noted. According to her, Moscow supports direct dialogue between Baku  and Yerevan, and is always ready to assist Armenian and Azerbaijani  partners in all aspects of normalization. This includes creating a  balanced peace treaty, unblocking transport and economic connections,  defining and demarcating the border, and fostering contacts through  civil society to achieve sustainable peace.

 Touching upon the regional platform "3+3", Zakharova expressed her  conviction that this is a promising mechanism for building a dialogue  between the countries of the South Caucasus and their immediate  neighbors. She also recalled that at the last third meeting of the  platform on October 18, 2024, in Istanbul, the heads of the foreign  ministries of the participating countries agreed on a plan for  further actions, which, in her opinion, will be implemented in the  current year, 2025.