Russia’s participation in the Armenia-Turkey reconciliation was limited to its joining the signing ceremony in Zurich along with U.S. and French colleagues at request of the parties, RF Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the Jan.22 press conference.

He underlined that the process was launched by the two states “without any outside interference.”

“We stand for Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, opposing any artificial linkage with other processes. We are drawn to Armenia-Turkey relations’ normalization, as well as early Karabakh conflict settlement in the interests of Armenian and Azerbaijani people,” Lavrov stated.

According to him, both issues are complex, thus all parties involved should be weighted and rest on arrangements agreed previously.

“Russia will assist in every possible way, however not everything depends on us. First it depends on the states directly involved both in Armenia-Turkey reconciliation and Karabakh peace process,” FM concluded.

A.G.