The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh is just emerging from a hot phase, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during his meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan.
"We are just coming out of the hot phase of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. I would like to note the importance, which everyone is forced to recognize today, of the joint statement that was signed by the Prime Minister of Armenia, the President of Azerbaijan and the President of the Russian Federation on November 9, which stopped the war and secured an agreement allowing both refugees and internally displaced persons to return to their homes," Lavrov said.
The Russian Foreign Minister stated that the agreements reached could contribute to the transformation of the South Caucasus "from a region of contradictions into a region of stability and prosperity in the interests of all peoples living there." "We will do our best to promote progress in this direction," the minister stressed.
He recalled that to advance this goal, Russian peacekeepers are actively working in the region, who also contribute to the early completion of the process of exchanging prisoners and returning the bodies of the dead.
In addition, Moscow is interested in cooperation with international structures in restoring peaceful life in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Russian top diplomat continued. "We strongly support the activities of international organizations that are ready to invest their resources, experience and potential in the restoration of peaceful life [in Nagorno-Karabakh]," Lavrov noted.
The Karabakh war ended on the night of November 9-10, 2020 with the victory of Azerbaijan. During the hostilities from September 27 to November 9, the Azerbaijani army liberated the Fizuli, Jebrail, Zangilan and Gubadli districts, parts of the Terter, Khojavend, Khojaly and Shusha districts, including the heart of Azerbaijani culture - the city of Shusha from the occupation forces of the Armenian Armed Forces. From November 10 to 30, the Armenian troops were withdrawn from the Aghdam, Kalbajar and Lachin regions. The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was restored on December 1.
