Five-way consultations on security and cooperation issues in the Caucasus region were held in Tehran by the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bairamov, Armenia's Ararat Mirzoyan, Iran, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Russia, Sergey Lavrov and Turkey, Hakan Fidan in the framework of the "3+ Regional Consultative Platform 3", which also provides for the participation of Georgia, which was not represented this time.
In their joint communiqué, issued by the Iranian side, the Ministers underlined "the importance of developing friendly relations between the countries based on mutual interests and good neighborliness", as well as "the importance of peaceful resolution of disputes, respect for sovereignty , political independence, territorial integrity, the inviolability of internationally recognized borders, non-interference in internal affairs, the prohibition of the threat or use of force and respect for human rights based on all the principles of the UN Charter".
They also expressed the intention of their governments to "strengthen bilateral and multilateral consultations and cooperation in order to consolidate lasting peace and economic development in the region", but also their satisfaction "for the ongoing processes of normalization and development of relations between of all countries in the region".
The specific 3+3 consultation was the first since the aggression by Azerbaijan, the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) to Armenia and the forced uprooting of some 120.000 Armenian residents of the enclave, with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan expressing their intention to sign a peace treaty by the end of the year.
Commenting on the talks, the Russian Foreign Minister S. Lavrov expressed satisfaction "for the processes of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Armenia and Turkey", which Russia actively supports and will continue, as he said.
Asked about the conflict between Yerevan and Baku, he said that "in general, the conflict has been resolved. The sides agreed that Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan. That was the main outstanding issue." According to Mr. Lavrov, "practical steps remain for the full normalization of relations", which are, in addition to the peace treaty, the demarcation of borders and the establishment of transport and economic ties without obstacles, processes supported by Moscow in the framework of multilateral and bilateral partnerships in which it participates.
Referring specifically to Yerevan and Baku's agreement "to establish a [border] demarcation commission, in the work of which the Russian side would participate as an advisor," the Russian Foreign Minister stated that "unfortunately, the commission did not meet for a long time. Although over the last year there have been (and continue to be) efforts on the part of the US and, above all, the EU to engage in the demarcation process.
"Russia is not opposed to any contacts that the Armenians and Azeris consider useful, but experts know very well that the Russian Federation alone has everything necessary to discuss and agree on demarcation, including the maps they have left over from the Soviet era. Partners understand this. We're not trying to make a big deal out of it. Let them try their luck in Brussels, if they have the desire to do so. But we are always ready to really help start the practical demarcation,” noted S. Lavrov.
On the eve of this 2nd consultation in Tehran, Russian diplomatic sources had commented negatively on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's speech to the European Parliament a week ago, calling his words "irresponsible and provocative" regarding Russian-Armenian relations.
"We see how Armenia is trying to turn itself into Ukraine number three (if we count Moldova as Ukraine number two) and Nikol Pashinyan is following the path of Vladimir Zelensky in seven-mile steps," a senior source told Russia's RT network.
Apparently referring to Russia, the Armenian Prime Minister had stated that "external forces are trying to cause internal instability in the democracy and accused the "allies in the field of security" of not helping the country and "even calling for a change of power".
With his statements, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has rejected N. Pashinyan's criticism of "the inaction of the Russian peacekeeping forces in Nagorno-Karabakh", noting that the mandate agreed upon by all parties concerned only the monitoring of the ceasefire in the enclave, which "the Armenian Prime Minister twice recognized in writing as the territory of Azerbaijan".
Source: KYPE