Elena Teslova
19 May 2023•Update: 19 May 2023
MOSCOW
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that he met with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts in Moscow to discuss a roadmap to normalize relations between Baku and Yerevan.
Opening the meeting, Lavrov said he expects his interlocutors to inform him about steps that Russia should take to contribute to the implementation of the trilateral agreements, which ended the Second Karabakh War.
Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.
In the fall of 2020, in 44 days of clashes, Azerbaijan liberated several cities, villages and settlements from Armenian occupation. The Russian-brokered peace agreement is celebrated as a triumph in Azerbaijan.
"We met quite a long time ago, and a lot of new topics have appeared. I hope that today's meeting will take place in a constructive atmosphere, and that your direct dialogue will help achieve additional results," he said.
Lavrov suggested focusing in the trilateral format on the possibilities that Russia has that can be used to define steps for normalization between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
"We are entirely interested to have stability and peace in this region (South Caucasus), where Russia's interests are directly involved, we will pursue implementation of the solutions that will lead to the stabilization," he said.
Lavrov urged to address humanitarian issues, unblocking transport and economic ties, and agreeing on a text of future peace treaty.
Ahead of the meeting the minister also held separate bilateral meetings with Armenian and Azerbaijani top diplomats.
With Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Lavrov suggested discussing issues related to arranging a presidential meeting.
For his part, Bayramov thanked Russia for preserving the memory of Azerbaijani leader Heydar Aliyev and organizing events to commemorate his 100th anniversary.
He also invited Lavrov to discuss the bilateral agenda, which is "always very intense" due to close cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia.
At the talks with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Lavrov urged to find solutions for three "key" issues -- a peace treaty, unblocking communications and border delimitation.
For his part, Mirzoyan said Yerevan is committed to the trilateral agreements of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia.
However he accused Baku of the violation of the accord, naming as such the establishment of a border checkpoint on the Lachin road.
