Russia weighs in on new Turkey-Azerbaijan dealJune 18, 2021 - 14:41 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia believes that combining the bilateral relations of Azerbaijan or Armenia with third parties and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not correct, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said on Friday, June 18, commenting on a declaration signed by Azerbaijan and Turkey days earlier. On June 15, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey, Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, signed an agreement in the Nagorno-Karabakh city of Shushi, which came under Baku's control during the 44-day war in fall 2020. The text of the declaration notes that both countries will act together in the event of a threat or aggression from a third state. It is also noted in the declaration that "the parties will continue joint efforts to modernize the armed forces of the two fraternal countries in accordance with modern requirements." "We do not consider it correct to combine the topics concerning Nagorno-Karabakh and bilateral relations of Armenia or Azerbaijan with third countries," Zakharova told reporters on Friday. "It is in this vein that we view the latest Azerbaijani-Turkish contacts at the highest level. We proceed from the premise that bilateral ties in the region, including military ones, should not be built against other states." According to her, Russia supports all steps, including dialogue between Armenia and Turkey, aimed at normalizing the dialogue between Baku and Yerevan. “Cooperation in the South Caucasus should develop on the principles of good neighborliness and, of course, taking into account the interests of all countries in the region,” Zakharova noted. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |