Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the escalation on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia by phone with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
According to the Ministry, an exchange of views was held on the current situation in Transcaucasia. "In connection with the recent escalation of violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Russian side stressed the need to show balanced approaches and exert a restraining influence on the parties involved in the conflict in order to prevent further aggravation of the situation, ensure security on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and intensify efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It was agreed to develop cooperation between Moscow and Ankara in the interests of stabilization in the region," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, in continuation of the Russian-Turkish interdepartmental consultations in Ankara on July 21-22, the Ministers confirmed "the need for further exchange of views on ways to quickly normalize [the situation] in Libya, stop fighting and establish an inter-Libyan dialogue with the participation of the UN".
The Ministry added that the parties also touched upon a number of issues on the bilateral agenda. "The parties noted the importance of resuming contacts as the rate of spread of coronavirus infection decreases. It was agreed to continue the Russian-Turkish dialogue on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, " the Russian foreign Ministry stressed.
The situation on the border of Azerbaijan and Armenia escalated on July 12. Azerbaijan declared an attempt by the Armenian armed forces to attack the positions of the Republic's army using artillery, while Yerevan called the attempt to break through from the Azerbaijani side the reason for the aggravation. Baku reported 12 dead soldiers of the Azerbaijani army since the escalation of the conflict. Yerevan said five soldiers were killed and nine wounded. Since July 17, the situation on the border, according to both sides, is relatively calm.
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Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS