Russia acknowledges Azerbaijan's reintegration plans for Karabakh Armenians Foreign Ministry official says

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, indicated that Russia is well-acquainted with the Azerbaijani government’s program aimed at the reintegration of ethnic Armenians in Karabakh. 

Zakharova's remarks came during a press conference addressing the return of Armenians who had voluntarily departed the region following the cessation of hostilities, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Moreover, she suggested that this population can be called in different ways, including “those who lived there until recently”, and not only as the Armenian journalist tried to formulate “native”.
Responding to inquiries about the situation, Zakharova raised questions about the existence of a comprehensive plan from the Armenian side, emphasizing that she could only comment on validated proposals.
 
"Does the Armenian side have any detailed program on this issue? If there is, I would comment on it," she remarked, subtly redirecting the query towards Armenia and questioning the framing of the displaced populace. 
She suggested that referring to them strictly as “native” residents may not encapsulate the complexities of the situation.

Zakharova reiterated Russia’s commitment to facilitating dialogue and cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, underlining the importance of adhering to the trilateral agreements established in 2020. She stated that these agreements serve as the cornerstone for Azerbaijan-Armenia reconciliation and that there is no viable alternative to these frameworks.

According to Zakharova, the trilateral agreements encompass vital elements crucial to the normalization of relations, including the formulation of a peace treaty, border delimitation and demarcation, and the revitalization of transportation links within the region. 

Furthermore, she confirmed that recent discussions during President Vladimir Putin's state visit to Azerbaijan meticulously covered the normalization process.

Meanwhile, Zakharova, emphasized the need for the unblocking of transport communications in the South Caucasus to align with the interests of the region as she responded to inquiries regarding the development of the North-South transport corridor, an initiative connecting Russia to Iran via Azerbaijan.

Zakharova elaborated on the ongoing collaborative efforts between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran, specifically within the context of the Caspian Sea route. This corridor aims to facilitate the transportation of goods from Russia through Azerbaijani territory and further into Iran, thus enhancing trade connections in the region.

She pointed out that discussions regarding a route linking Azerbaijan’s western regions to Nakhchivan—via Armenia—are currently taking place within a trilateral working group. This group is focused on unblocking all economic and transport ties in the South Caucasus and is co-chaired by the deputy prime ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.

“Work in the trilateral working group is proceeding under the trilateral agreements issued following the November 9, 2020 statements of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia, alongside the Armenian prime minister,” Zakharova noted.

Reaffirming the Kremlin's stance, she indicated that Russia holds a clear position on the significance of unblocking transport links between Baku and Yerevan.

Zakharova expressed optimism that agreements would be reached and implemented through mutual consent of all parties involved, ensuring that the outcomes benefit Azerbaijan, Armenia, and their neighboring countries.