Trilateral statements by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan undoubtedly remain the key to stabilizing the situation in the region. This was announced on Monday, March 20, by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
“We have no doubt that the tripartite statements of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation remain the key to the implementation of all decisions in the interests of ensuring the stabilization of the situation. [в регионе]: in the economic sphere, and in the military-political sphere, and in international law,” he said, opening negotiations in Moscow with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan.
Earlier, on March 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, they discussed the implementation of trilateral agreements on Nagorno-Karabakh. The parties considered all aspects of the implementation of the agreements between the Russian Federation, Armenia and Azerbaijan concluded in 2020-2022, including ensuring security on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, restoring economic and transport ties and preparing a peace treaty between the countries.
On March 6, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called for restraint on the part of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. She recommended taking steps to de-escalate the situation.
The situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border worsened in the fall of 2022. Yerevan and Baku accused each other of the escalation, and also reported deaths on each side.
On December 29, 2022, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the work of Russian peacekeepers on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh deserves the highest praise, as they help maintain security in the region.
Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan escalated against the backdrop of contesting the ownership of Nagorno-Karabakh, which in 1988 announced its secession from the Azerbaijan SSR. During the military conflict of 1992-1994, Baku lost control over Karabakh. In September 2020, Baku took control of a number of settlements during military operations. In November of the same year, Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the participation of the Russian Federation, signed an agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh.
