In light of the escalation of hostile rhetoric and the increase in the number of incidents in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia reiterates the need for resumption of negotiations on all tracks of Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization, the spokesperson for Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, says.
Stressing that the increase in the number of incidents in Karabakh is of serious concern, Zakharova noted that Moscow starts from the fact that there is no alternative to the peace process to reiterate the importance of resuming the negotiations.
She underscored that improvement is necessary on all tracks of Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization, including preparing a peace treaty, border delimitation, unblocking transport communications, holding meetings of public figures, parliamentarians, etc.
Zakharova has also commented on the issue of the return of Western Azerbaijanis to their lands in the context of the reconciliation of the two countries which also covers humanitarian issues.
Underscoring that they have developed a concept of safe and dignified return, based on international law, the Community of Western Azerbaijan – historical lands of Azerbaijan located in modern-day Armenia’s territory- sent earlier a letter to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, noting that they’ve chosen the path of dialog with the Armenian government to carry out the return.
Previously in February, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that high on the agenda remains a trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan on a peace treaty over the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, noting that they’re now considering dates convenient for all sides.
Lavrov emphasized Moscow’s conviction that the trilateral negotiations remain the key to the implementation of all decisions to ensure the stabilization of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Although the decades-long conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh- a region on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan- that flared up in September 2020 ended in November 2020 with a Russia-brokered trilateral declaration of ceasefire, it ignited again last December.
The unrest was caused by a group of self-described environmental activists from Azerbaijan – supported by Baku – that are blocking the only link between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh which runs through Azerbaijani territory, the Lachin Corridor, protesting against the alleged illegal Armenian mining in the area.
Since December 12, 2022, the Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed near Azerbaijan’s Shusha, where the protests are ongoing for more than 100 days now.
