Moscow urges all parties involved in the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh not to politicize the humanitarian file in the region, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova told a briefing.
"We orient all the parties not to politicize the humanitarian case, to start immediately the work, which is highly demanded in conditions of the rather acute humanitarian situation in the region. This would be an important contribution to ensuring the preservation of cultural monuments and religious sanctuaries and achieving inter-faith and inter-ethnic reconciliation and harmony in the region," she said.
Zakharova noted that in recent days Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh continued to create favorable conditions for the return of refugees, conducted demining and search for missing soldiers and bodies. A humanitarian response center was also set up with the participation of several dozens of federal ministries, departments and agencies, the involvement of relevant agencies of Azerbaijan and Armenia in its work was being worked out, and the first shipments of humanitarian cargo were sent.
"Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia mobilized international support within the OSCE, other Minsk Group co-chair countries, as well as specialized UN organizations. The International Committee of the Red Cross is already actively functioning, and we are also working with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Food Programme, UNESCO, UNICEF, the UN Development Programme, the WHO," the diplomat said.
Zakharova also underlined that during the visit of the inter-departmental delegation of the Russian Federation to Yerevan and Baku, "the issues of humanitarian aid" and creation of conditions for normal life activities in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh were discussed in detail. "We expect that the comprehensive measures implemented by the Russian Federation together with Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as with interested foreign partners and structures will contribute to peace and security in the South Caucasus," summed up the official representative of the Foreign Ministry.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Artem Geodakyan / TASS
Based on materials from TASS