Events on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border show that the situation in the region has not calmed down and requires the participation of a Russian peacekeeping contingent as a guarantor of stability in the region, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday at an expanded meeting of the Russian Foreign Ministry board.
"A year ago, the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh was halted with the active mediation efforts of the Russian Federation. However, recent shootings on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border have shown that the situation in that region is still not fully calmed down," he said. "The efforts of the Russian peacekeeping contingent as a guarantor of the cease-fire regime and security of civilians are extremely needed to ensure stability," Putin added.
The head of state noted that the role of Russian diplomacy is increasing in continuing efforts to resolve disputed issues between Azerbaijan and Armenia, restore economic ties in the Transcaucasus and unblock transport corridors. "In my opinion, the prospects there are not bad. All countries in the region, including Russia, are interested in the long-term resolution of these problems," the Russian President concluded.
On November 16, intense fighting broke out between Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces in the border areas of Armenia's Syunik region. Yerevan announced that the Azerbaijani armed forces launched an offensive deep into the territory of the republic. The state highway connecting the capital with the southern regions of the country and Iran was under threat. Baku blamed Yerevan for the attack, accusing the Armenian armed forces of provocation. According to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, Armenian servicemen attacked Azerbaijani posts.
On the same day Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to discuss the situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held telephone conversations with his colleagues from Armenia and Azerbaijan Suren Papikyan and Zakir Hasanov in turn. After that, the Azerbaijani and Armenian Defense Ministers took measures to stabilize the situation on the border and the situation normalized.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS