Lavrov: Russian-Armenian relations tested by time
YEREVAN, April 24. /ARKA/. Russian-Armenian relations have been tested by time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Russian weekly 'Argumenty i Fakty.'
“I have no doubt that they will continue to develop in a spirit of mutual trust, strategic partnership and allied interaction,” he said in response to a question whether Russia managed to maintain warm relations with Armenia after the 44-day war in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.
“Russia is always ready to lend a shoulder to the fraternal Armenian people. This is evidenced by the mediation efforts of Russia, personally President Putin, which helped end the hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 autumn and launch the process of normalizing the situation in the region,” Lavrov said.
According to Lavrov, the trilateral agreements of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia, stemming from their statements of November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, are being successfully implemented.
“This concerns, in particular, the elimination of the humanitarian and socio-economic consequences of the conflict, the reopening of transport and economic ties in the South Caucasus. Russian assistance is highly appreciated by Armenian friends,” he said.
Lavrov added that relations between Russia and Armenia are not limited to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem only.
“We have established an active and confidential political dialogue at the highest and other levels. This year alone, our leaders have met twice and have had many telephone conversations. In early May, I paid a visit to Yerevan. Inter-parliamentary exchanges are being carried out as well,” he said.
Lavrov recalled that to help Armenia overcome the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, Russia has supplied it with several tens of thousands of Sputnik V vaccines.
“We are successfully developing ties in trade and economy, which are facilitated by regular meetings of the co-chairs of the Russian-Armenian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation,” he stressed.
On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijani armed forces, backed by Turkey and foreign mercenaries and terrorists, attacked Nagorno-Karabakh along the entire front line using rocket and artillery weapons, heavy armored vehicles, military aircraft and prohibited types of weapons such as cluster bombs and phosphorus weapons.
After 44 days of the war, on November 9, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on the cessation of all hostilities. According to the document, the parties stopped at where they were at that time. The town of Shushi, the districts of Agdam, Kelbajar and Lachin were handed over to Azerbaijan, with the exception of a 5-kilometer corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia.
A Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed along the contact line in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor. -0-
