We cannot but be concerned by the alarming trends gaining momentum in the South Caucasus, where the West is openly trying to transfer the confrontation scheme developed in Ukraine. This was stated by the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Maria Zakharova, during a briefing.
“We see what unprecedented external pressure fraternal Armenia is being subjected to. Steps are being taken to discredit Russia’s policy in the region in order to harm the centuries-old ties between our countries and peoples. Numerous foundations, public organisations and media outlets operating at the behest of Washington and Brussels are vindictively seeking to sow anti-Russian sentiments in society.
We are convinced that attempts by external forces to split Moscow and Yerevan will not succeed. We are determined to strengthen the strategic alliance and multifaceted cooperation with Armenia, which allows us to jointly overcome the existing challenges.
The West’s reckless and impudent approach can also be seen in the context of the regulation of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. Neither the regional specificity of the issue nor its particular sensitivity is taken into account. Washington’s and Brussels’ real goals are not the development of compromise and balanced solutions, but self-promotion and the expulsion of Russia from the South Caucasus.
Our trilateral developments have been appropriated and distorted. Visits by Western secret envoys to Armenia under the guise of the European Union, the OSCE and France have become frequent. Hastily concocted initiatives are being advanced that do not take into account the interests of the entire population of the region. This is fraught with the disruption of the balance achieved under difficult conditions, on the basis of the agreements of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia of 9 November 2020.
In parallel, baseless accusations are circulating that Moscow is allegedly not fulfilling its security obligations towards Armenia. In this regard, we would like to recall that it was our country that stopped the war in November 2020, sent peacekeepers who brought peace and stability to the region and to this day make a decisive contribution to the settlement of armed incidents between Baku and Yerevan. Attempts by external forces to achieve the withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping contingent are aimed at destabilising the South Caucasus.
At all levels, we continue to work with partners, proceeding from the interests of a comprehensive settlement of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, including the unblocking of transport communications, the delimitation of borders, agreement on a peace treaty, the resolution of humanitarian issues and the establishment of public and expert dialogue. At the same time, achieving peace requires political will and the consent of both sides.”
