Foreign Ministry statement on the situation concerning the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalisation process
We are seriously concerned over the situation in the zone of responsibility of the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent in Nagorno Karabakh, along the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact and also during dialogue between official Baku and Yerevan.
It is with great concern that we are documenting an increase in the number of ceasefire violations and various incidents that regularly cause casualties on both sides. We believe that the more pronounced accusatory and aggressive rhetoric in Azerbaijani and Armenian public space is no less dangerous. In the context of the latest developments on April 23, we are emphasising the unacceptability of any unilateral steps in violation of the basic provisions of the trilateral statement by Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders of November 9, 2020, including the unapproved modification of the mode of operation of the Lachin corridor or attempts to use it for purposes not meeting the peaceful agenda.
We are urging the sides to unhesitatingly honour existing agreements once again. We are of the view that, in any event, civilians should not suffer, and that no obstacles hampering their activities should be created.
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We believe that many of the problems that are arising have been caused by the fact that the negotiating process on the main aspects of the trilateral agreements by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia has been stalled for months. This includes efforts to unblock transport routes in the region, to launch the process of delimiting the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and to coordinate the parameters of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We are expecting Baku and Yerevan to display political will and to overcome this negative trend in the near future.
The Russian side is ready to provide all the required assistance to its close partners, Azerbaijan and Armenia, at the political level and on the ground, as well, by involving the command of the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent.
We are also warning external Western players and local Russophobic elements, working in line with their time-serving agenda, against attempts to destabilise the situation, including through a campaign that aims to smear Russia.
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
