Russian MFA issues statement ahead of Azerbaijani FM's visit amid rising tensions in South Caucasus

POLITICS  04 December 2022 - 16:14

One of Russia's foreign policy priorities is to promote the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia in accordance with the top-level tripartite agreements of November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021, and October 31, 2022.

Russian Foreign Ministry gave this statement in connection with the forthcoming working visit of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov to Moscow on December 5, AZERTAG reports.

Russia sees the implementation of these agreements as a key condition for ensuring peace and stability in the South Caucasus, restoring trust and full cooperation between Baku and Yerevan.

"The Russian peacekeeping contingent monitors the observance of the ceasefire regime and contributes to maintaining security in its area of responsibility. The peacekeepers assist in the return of refugees, the establishment of a peaceful life, conduct demining of territories, and mediate exchanges of prisoners of war and detainees.

The most important area of Russian efforts is the unblocking of transport communications in the region. Together with our Azerbaijani and Armenian partners in the Trilateral Working Group, co-chaired by the deputy prime ministers, we are working towards agreeing on a package of specific infrastructure projects that will enable rail and road links to be established and stimulate the resumption of economic relations.

We welcome the establishment of the Bilateral Commission on the Delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian State Border. The launching of the delimitation process is designed to help end border incidents between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Russia will provide the necessary consultative assistance at the request of the parties.

The preparation of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia is designed to consolidate the basic principles of the relationship and to lay the foundations for mutually beneficial cooperation in the long term. Russia will provide all possible assistance to this difficult but extremely important process in the interests of strengthening peace and security in the South Caucasus.

Contacts in the humanitarian sphere contribute to strengthening trust between Baku and Yerevan. The Russian side will continue to support interaction through civil society, parliamentarians and expert circles aimed at normalizing Azerbaijani-Armenian relations.

We consider Bayramov's upcoming visit in the context of the continuation of the trusting Russian-Azerbaijani political dialogue and further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation," the Russian foreign ministry said.

Caliber.Az