Russia has no goal of acquiring exclusive rights of communication with Armenia and Azerbaijan. This was stated in a declaration published by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the first anniversary of the signing of the trilateral statement by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020.
“The Russian side does not claim a monopoly in communication with Armenia and Azerbaijan, although we are bound to those countries and peoples by a long and close friendship and broad partnership. We advocate the effective use of the existing potential of the international community, with due regard for the changed regional realities,” the document states.
The diplomatic service drew attention to the fact that one year after the adoption of the trilateral statement, one can confidently refute the informational fillings in social networks and internet sources to the effect that “Russia’s peacekeeping efforts were aimed at separating Nagorno-Karabakh, handing it over to Azerbaijan, and turning Armenia into a ‘protectorate’.”
“Such statements are populist in nature, carry an obvious external order and have nothing to do with reality,” the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.
As noted at the ministry, all trilateral documents and mechanisms initiated by Moscow were not imposed on the parties, but were based on a verified balance of interests, which provides for an extremely respectful attitude towards the sovereignty and interests of Baku and Yerevan.
“We have not been able to reach agreement on a number of our initiatives, and that is natural. But the agreement already established was achieved through hardship and is being effectively implemented in practice,” the diplomatic department stressed.
On the Launch of Negotiations on the Delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Border
Russia is ready to support the launch of negotiations on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border for its subsequent demarcation, the statement says.
“The statement of November 9, 2020 recorded an important provision — the unblocking of all economic and transport links in the region. <…> We believe that the long-term solution to the problem is the launch of the process of delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border, followed by its demarcation. Russia is ready to provide the necessary advisory assistance, to provide the necessary cartographic materials at the request of the parties, and to share its rich experience in delimitation with other countries,” the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.
Russian border guards are present in the most problematic sections of the border to prevent and suppress conflict situations and to regulate incidents. The work of the border agencies of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia is organised around the clock, with a view to the mutual exchange of relevant information. One of the key elements of joint work aimed at regulating Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, as well as the general situation in the South Caucasus, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted, was the work of the trilateral working group (TWG).
The Russian Foreign Ministry also stressed that Moscow is determined to continue vigorous work on the issue of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.
“We are confident that the potential of this universally recognised format is far from exhausted, as evidenced by the first meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia since November 2020, under the auspices of the MG co-chairs, on September 23 in New York during the 76th session of the UN General Assembly. The agenda of the meeting included urgent humanitarian and socio-economic issues. The co-chairs’ plans are to visit the region and continue contacts in the ‘3+2’ format,” the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.
Regarding the Work of the Trilateral Working Group
As a result of eight meetings of the TWG, co-chaired by the deputy prime ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Russian Foreign Ministry recalls, a report was presented describing precise railway and motorway routes for restoring the connection between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with access to the road communications of neighbouring countries, which should increase the region’s transit attractiveness and attract additional investment. In this connection, additional prospects for the implementation of the “North-South” international artery open up for Russia and Armenia, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.
“It is important, especially in light of the situation created around the so-called ‘Zangezur corridor’, which is being inflated in the media, that all participants of the TWG have agreed that all unblocked and newly created road routes shall operate on the basis of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the states through whose territory they pass,” concluded the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
