The parties to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh should recognize the need to expand the presence of international organizations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told following a meeting with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer.
"We would like the parties to the conflict to recognize the importance of expanding the international presence in Karabakh both through the Office of the [UN High] Commissioner for Refugees, UNESCO and the UN Development Program because the issues of reconstruction of the destroyed are quite acute," Lavrov said, answering a question about cooperation between Russia and the ICRC in Karabakh.
As the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry added, the more such presence will be, "the more effectively favorable conditions will be created for the restoration of ethnoreligious peace and harmony".
On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on the complete cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh. According to the Russian leader, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides are stopping at their occupied positions, and Russian peacekeepers will be deployed in the region.
The ICRC is involved in providing humanitarian assistance as well as transferring the bodies of dead soldiers. Earlier, Lavrov also spoke of the need to involve other organizations in the region, such as UNESCO, which could take over responsibility for protecting and restoring cultural monuments.
Attempts to rewrite the statement of the three countries
Moscow does not observe attempts to rewrite or revise the statement of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on Nagorno-Karabakh, said Lavrov.
"We do not see any attempts to rewrite or revise the statement that was issued. If I understand correctly, there are difficult discussions in Armenia now. The 17 parties that have united to support the interests of their country have clearly expressed their opposition to any attempt to revise that statement," he said.
"We proceed from that and will do everything possible to prevent such attempts from happening and in any case fail," Lavrov stressed.
The Russian Foreign Minister noted that Azerbaijani and Armenian refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh should voluntarily return to the region in full compliance with international law. "They should be provided with assistance in the places of their former residence, especially when these places have been subjected to hostilities and restoration works are needed there. International organizations could play a role here. We will assist in any way we can," the minister added.
Statements by the US and France
Sergey Lavrov called a misunderstanding of the statement made by representatives of the United States and France on November 9 by leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on Nagorno-Karabakh.
"It was strange to hear that," the Russian minister said in response to a request to comment on those statements. - "From the very beginning of Russia's efforts to end the hot phase of this conflict, we have worked closely with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs".
"To be honest, I believe that such statements either reflect the lack of awareness of those who issue such statements or are simply the result of a misunderstanding," he added.
Overcoming the crisis
The ICRC can play an important role in overcoming the consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis, Lavrov said.
According to Lavrov, the cessation of hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh zone on the basis of agreements between the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia "opens up additional opportunities for the ICRC's work". "We believe that the ICRC is well-positioned to play an important and even more active role in overcoming the humanitarian consequences of what happened in Nagorno-Karabakh," he said.
"We know how the Red Cross deals with issues related to facilitating the exchange of bodies, the return of prisoners and other detainees. This is all very important in order to restore normal relations between people of different ethnic and confessional groups," the minister emphasized.
Lavrov said that the experience of the ICRC, which has been present in the region for many years, would be useful for those organizations that have not yet started their work there.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Stanislav Krasilnikov / TASS
Based on materials from TASS