Russian, Azerbaijani FMs discuss situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

YEREVAN, August 9. /ARKA/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov had a telephone conversation on Monday to discuss Russian-Azerbaijani relations, as well as regional and international issues, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

According to it, a substantive exchange of views took place on the implementation of the statements signed by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia of November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, as well as on ways to normalize the situation on ​​the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

"The importance of the soonest resumption of the activities of the Trilateral Working Group under the co-chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia to unblock economic and transport ties in the region was emphasized," the ministry said.

The ministers were said also to note with satisfaction the ongoing development of multifaceted Russian-Azerbaijani relations, the steady growth of trade and economic ties.

Issues of further deepening cooperation on international platforms, including the UN, OSCE and the "Caspian Five" were considered.

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 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-