Once again, we feel the cordiality of the Armenian people and our friends right from the first moment of the visit to Yerevan. We thank you for the attention that you are showing to our delegation. This is what Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov said during his meeting with acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan today.
In his speech, Lavrov particularly stated the following: “Today we held very thorough, substantive and reliable talks about our bilateral ties, regional issues and cooperation within international organizations and emphasized once again the special significance of the allied ties and strategic partnership in all sectors of our cooperation.
The political dialogue between you and the President of the Russian Federation is rather intensive, even in this year of the pandemic. Vladimir Putin transmits the most cordial wishes to you, wishing you success in the implementation of actions for the country’s development and the agreements reached with respect to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
This year we are marking the 30th anniversary of our diplomatic relations and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, which is a key document that lays down our long-term relations and is consistently implemented in all directions.
Russia is committed to ensuring the security of its ally, that is, the Republic of Armenia. This has been discussed during your talks with President Putin and the regular and intensive contacts between the two countries’ defense ministries.
Russia highly appreciates the agreements reached with respect to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and thanks you for underscoring the role of Russia and President Putin in the efforts that helped stop the hostilities and agree on the sustainable framework of actions of all the parties.
We most actively support the activities of the trilateral task force at the level of the Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan who are involved in the unblocking of economic and transport infrastructures which will allow to put an end to Armenia’s blockade and ensure mutually beneficial cooperation of all the states in the region.
Unquestionably, Russia will continue its peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh. The trilateral agreement ensures the powers of our peacekeepers to ensure the security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and the operation of the Lachin corridor. Our peacekeepers will do everything to solve the remaining issues (determination of the specific line of contact and ensuring of mutually beneficial agreements on passage), and the delimitation and demarcation of the borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be possible when all these steps are taken.
We continue to support the solution to all humanitarian issues and completion of the process of returning all detainees along with the other Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. We understand the symbolic and psychological significance of this and are certain that we will be able to solve the issue soon. Russia will do everything it can to support the solutions to these issues in all ways and formats, with respect to implementation of the trilateral agreements reached in November 2020 and January 2021 and will do everything to promote the activities of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for the formation of an atmosphere that will be as positive as possible.
Once again, I thank you for this reception hosted by you. I am certain that the results of my talks with you and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will allow us to advance our allied relations in all directions. Thank you.”