MFA Spokersperson: Yerevan doubts the constructive engagement of the Russian Federation in the normalization process of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan

ArmInfo. Official Yerevan  doubts the constructive involvement of the Russian Federation in the  process of settling relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.  The  reason for the doubt was yesterday's statement by Russian Foreign  Minister Sergey Lavrov that it is Armenia that is sabotaging the  agreement on unblocking communications through the Syunik region.   Ani Badalyan, Press Secretary of the Armenian Foreign Ministry,  commenting on Lavrov's statements to the Armenian media, regretfully  stated that "false, clearly biased, often disrespectful comments of  various officials of Russian Foreign Ministry officials regarding  Armenia, unfortunately, are not new, and if you have noticed, it has  been a while since we even reacted to them."

" However, we should say that yesterday's statement by the Foreign  minister of Russia not only causes regret but also calls into  question the constructive engagement of the Russian Federation in the  normalization process of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.   The Foreign Minister of the state that once undertook a mediator's  mission, signed the November 9, 2020 Statement and deployed a  peacekeeping continent in the region based on it, cannot fail to see  that there is not a single key provision of that Statement that is  not irrevocably violated, despite Russia's signature under the  document and its participation and responsibility in the processes  envisaged by it," Badalyan emphasized.

According to her, Yerevan also believes that the Foreign Minister of  Russia is well aware that, apart from public documents, Armenia is  not a party of any other agreement and, therefore, cannot sabotage  them.  "We also consider it necessary to emphasize that the  "Crossroads of Peace" project presented by the Government of the  Republic of Armenia is already widely recognized among the  international community, and it was also presented several times to  the representatives of the Russian Federation. We reaffirm that the  opening of regional communications within its framework is possible  literally at any moment. The "Crossroads of Peace" project received a  positive response from a number of international partners.  We call  on our colleagues from the Foreign Ministry of Russian to refrain  from sabotaging through statements neither the project nor the  efforts to achieve peace in the South Caucasus.  The Government of  the Republic of Armenia has repeatedly reaffirmed and continues to  reiterate its commitment to the peace agenda and will do its part to  successfully implement it," Badalyan concluded.