Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has reiterated claims that the West is attempting to marginalize Russia from the process of normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Addressing reporters at a press conference in New York, Lavrov highlighted the agreement of several Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian documents at the highest diplomatic levels. These documents, he stated, delineate crucial aspects of the settlement, such as border demarcation, the reopening of trade and transport routes, and the potential signing of a peace treaty.
“Recently, we have witnessed how, following the achievement of these agreements, our Western counterparts have deemed it inappropriate for Russia to make progress in this arena,” Lavrov asserted. “They have enticed Armenians and Azerbaijanis to Brussels, Paris, Washington, and Prague. In 2022, the Prime Minister of Armenia signed a document in the Czech Republic, acknowledging the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its 1991 borders. This move caught us by surprise, effectively closing the debate on the status of Karabakh.”
Lavrov emphasized the presence of Russian peacekeepers deployed in Karabakh since 2020, tasked with ensuring the safety of Armenian residents. “This matter no longer concerns the Armenian side,” he remarked, indicating that it has become a bilateral issue between Russia and Azerbaijan.
“The presidents [of Russia and Azerbaijan] have discussed this topic and concluded that, at this stage, the presence of Russian peacekeepers contributes positively to stability, fostering trust in the region and facilitating the potential return of Karabakh residents who wish to do so,” Lavrov added.
