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 The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. London’s Armenian community has been left feeling “under attack” after the city’s Genocide monument was vandalised. The United States believes there should be an international mission to provide transparency. Partner news | Armenia: Opposition activist transferred to Investigative Committee Activist Samvel Vardanyan has been accused of insulting the lawmaker Hakob Aslanyan from the ruling Civil Contract party. Russia confirms start of withdrawal of peacekeepers from Karabakh The Kremlin has confirmed reports about the start of the withdrawal of Russian peacekeeping forces in Karabakh. France recalls its ambassador to Azerbaijan France on April 16 said it had recalled for consultations the French ambassador to Azerbaijan. Protesters rally as Georgia debates 'foreign agent' bill Georgian critics label the bill "the Russian law", comparing it to legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent. |