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.