Russia Recognizes Turkey's Participation in Settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict

Moscow / 07.31.20 / Turan: Russia is determined to work together with Turkey and other partners to reduce tensions in the South Caucasus. This was stated on July 30 at a briefing in Moscow by the deputy head of the information and press department of the Russian Foreign Ministry A. Zaitsev.

“Russia is very concerned about the recent aggravation of the situation on the border of friendly Armenia and Azerbaijan. We are convinced that the long-term Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, like any other disagreements in the international arena, must be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, through diplomatic negotiations. Our position is invariably shared by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - the United States and France, as well as in the UN, CIS and other international organizations.

The Russian leadership has made all the necessary efforts to prevent further escalation, including through operational interaction with key partners in the region. During the recent telephone conversations between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and our Azerbaijani and Armenian colleagues, we once again received assurances of support for such an approach from Baku and Yerevan.

We substantively discussed with the Turkish side the current situation in Transcaucasia and specifically in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement at the level of heads of state on July 27 and foreign ministers - on July 23. We mutually stated our serious concern about the dangerous development of events in the region.

Russia and Turkey proceed from the fact that there is no alternative to the political and diplomatic solution of the existing problems on the basis of the principles of international law in the interests of the peoples of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

We are determined to continue working together with partners, including Turkey, to stop a new round of tension, stabilize the general situation in the Transcaucasia, and actively promote the establishment of a political dialogue between Yerevan and Baku," Zaitsev said, answering the question about Turkey's role in the settlement the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

When asked about joint Azerbaijani-Turkish military exercises near the borders of Armenia, Zaitsev replied: “According to available information, in accordance with the current Azerbaijani-Turkish agreement on military cooperation, from July 29 to August 10, joint planned operational-tactical and tactical flight exercises. In total, about 5,000 servicemen, 150 units of armored vehicles, up to 150 units of artillery and air defense systems, as well as up to 30 tactical aircraft, multipurpose helicopters, reconnaissance and attack unmanned aerial vehicles take part in them.

We, of course, are following the situation in the region most closely, especially in view of the recent Armenian-Azerbaijani border conflict, and we strongly urge all parties to exercise restraint, including in their current military activities."    -02D-