Moscow welcomes U.S.-brokered Armenia-Azerbaijan summit in Washington - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. Aug 11 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Maria Zakharova has commented on the talks between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington (United States).

"Russia is interested in South Caucasus becoming a zone of stability and prosperity," Zakharova said on Saturday. "A crucial condition is a comprehensive Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization based on respect for interests of the people in both countries," she said.

"We have consistently supported all the efforts to help achieve this goal that is key to regional security. In this context the U.S.-brokered meeting in Washington of the leaders of the South Caucasus republics deserves a positive assessment. We hope this step will help advance the peace agenda," Zakharova said

Though Baku and Yerevan claim they prefer to maintain dialogue directly, without outside help, "the current stage in the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization began with Russia's direct assistance and central role with the adoption of the November 9, 2020 trilateral declaration of ceasefire and cessation of all hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone," Zakharova said. "A Russian peacekeeping force was deployed to the region, which made a valuable contribution to the stabilization. We will always remember those of our peacekeepers who were killed in the line of duty," she said.

Between 2020 and 2022 the same trilateral format drew up a roadmap in all key areas of Baku-Yerevan reconciliation: drafting a peace agreement, unlocking regional transport and economic links, the joint border delimitation and demarcation, promoting contacts among civil societies, Zakharova said.

"On each one of them a great deal has been done," she said.

"The best way to resolve South Caucasus' problems is to look for and subsequently implement decisions made by the regional countries themselves with support from their close neighbors: Russia, Iran and Turkey," she said.

"The participation of extra-regional actors should serve to bolster the peace agenda, not create more difficulties and dividing lines," Zakharova said.

"We will additionally analyze the Washington statements concerning the unlocking of regional communications. The trilateral agreements involving Russia, which neither party has quit, remain relevant in this sphere," she said.

It is also important to factor in Armenia's membership in the single customs space of the Eurasian Economic Union, in particular as far as organizing cargo transit through Armenia is concerned, she said. "Nor should one ignore the fact that Armenia's border with Iran is guarded by Russian border guards deployed there under the September 30, 1992 interstate agreement," Zakharova said.

"The signing and entry into force of an agreement on peace and establishing interstate relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be of crucial importance to peace between the two South Caucasus republics. The reconciliation between the two countries should be written into the regional context and based on a balance of interests and unconditional respect for priorities of the parties and neighboring states," Zakharova said.

Her comment was published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday.