Bayramov visits Moscow

On December 23, Jeyhun Bayramov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, paid a working visit to Russia. Within the framework of the visit, a meeting was held between Jeyhun Bayramov and Sergey Lavrov. At the meeting, issues of the bilateral and multilateral cooperation agenda between Azerbaijan and Russia, including the current situation in the region, were discussed.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov discussed various fields between the two countries, including political, economic, trade, cultural, humanitarian, etc. He expressed satisfaction with the development of existing bilateral relations in the fields. In this regard, the importance of the existing contract-legal framework between Azerbaijan and Russia, intensive political dialogue, and increasing mutual visits were noted. In addition to bilateral relations, issues of regional cooperation between the two countries were highlighted.

"The current situation in the region in the post-conflict period, as well as the protests around Lachin road in response to illegal economic activity, were the main topics of discussion. Jeyhun Bayramov stressed the importance of fulfilling the obligations arising from the Tripartite Statement dated November 10, 2020, and the agreements reached between the leaders," the Ministry said.

"It was stated that the violations of the provisions of the mentioned Tripartite Declaration by Armenia, the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the territories of Azerbaijan and the related aggravation of the ecological situation, the abuse of the Lachin road, which was intended to be used only for humanitarian purposes by Armenia in the Tripartite Declaration, caused the rightful protest of the Azerbaijani society. In addition, the report added that the ongoing mine threats and cases of mines being transferred using the Lachin road were again brought to the attention of the other party," the report added.

"Regarding the current situation, it was emphasized that the groundless claims by Armenia about the closure of the Lachin road by Azerbaijan and the 'blockade' of Armenian residents in our territories are not true, and these claims are refuted by the video footage showing the unhindered passage of vehicles on the Lachin road. In addition, it was stated that despite Armenia's refusal to participate in the next round of negotiations on the elements of the peace agreement, which was presented to the Armenian side during the meeting in Geneva on October 2, Azerbaijan is determined to continue discussions in this direction," the information stated.

Minister Sergey Lavrov talked about the development of bilateral and multilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. In this regard, it was pointed out that there is a vast potential for further development of relations. Minister Sergey Lavrov noted the importance of implementing tripartite declarations to eliminate tensions in the region and ensure peace and security in the region.

Press conference

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the situation in Lachin Corridor with his Azerbaijani counterpart in Moscow. During the press conference held after the meeting, Lavrov mentioned that Russian peacekeepers are working every hour to settle the situation in the Lachin Corridor.

"The position of the Russian Federation is that it is necessary to restore complete transport communication as soon as possible and to settle the disagreements regarding the exploitation of mines in the region. Everyone should adhere to the obligations assumed by the tripartite document of November 9, 2020," the Russian Foreign Minister said.

Sergey Lavrov expressed regret that Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan refused to hold trilateral consultations with Azerbaijan. He criticized Armenia for canceling the planned trilateral meeting with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts because of the ongoing Azerbaijani blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh. “We, like you, learned about this refusal from a statement by the [ministry’s] press service,” Lavrov told reporters after holding separate talks with Bayramov in Moscow.  “No diplomatic channels, which are usually used in such cases, were used,” he said, adding that “this method of the Armenian side is raising questions.”

“Such incidents, which are inevitable in any conflict and need to be addressed promptly, will last longer if one of the parties backs out from agreed rounds of negotiations after every such incident. This has never benefited anyone,” Lavrov added.

At the same time, he noted that Russia does not remove from the agenda the issue of organizing a tripartite meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "We have a common understanding that we do not remove trilateral contacts with the participation of our Armenian partner from the agenda. We have confirmed the readiness to host our friends in Moscow," Lavrov emphasized.

According to the Russian Foreign Minister, the topic of the peace treaty requires constant attention. "The more often we contribute to the advancement of the negotiation process, the sooner the issues that cause concern now will be resolved," he said. Lavrov also added that the ministerial meeting in the "3+3" format (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Iran, and Turkey) is being prepared, and the dates are being clarified. Sergey Lavrov said Russia is the country most interested in a solid and fair peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Lavrov stressed that if Baku and Yerevan want to give up Russian peacekeepers, this can be discussed: "If Baku and Yerevan want to refuse the services of Russian peacekeepers, they can sit down at the negotiating table and think about other options. Of course, we have also looked at the most interesting issue at the moment - the situation in the Lachin corridor. We have agreed that Russian peacekeepers should work with the relevant parties to regulate the situation. They work around the clock."

"The idea of replacing the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh with UN, OSCE or OSCE Minsk Group missions raises questions," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated. "If someone believes that a UN, an OSCE, or a Minsk Group fact-finding group should replace the Russian peacekeeping contingent, there are at least a couple of questions here. The first question: to do this, the parties' consent, first of all, Azerbaijan and Armenia, is necessary. If there is such an interest, and if it is a serious one, then probably it should first be offered to those who decided to send the Russian peacekeeping contingent and spoke in favor of sitting down at the negotiating table and thinking about another option," he said.

Moreover, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister stressed that Ruben Vardanyan [the de-facto State Minister of the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh] should leave Karabakh. "Ruben Vardanyan's activities are of a criminal adventurist nature, which must be stopped immediately. The sooner that person leaves the region, the better it will be for everyone. First of all, the local population suffers. It hinders reintegration," Bayramov added. According to him, before the departure of Ruben Vardanyan to Karabakh, there were positive contacts and projects.

Response to Lavrov from Mirzoyan

Ararat Mirzoyan stated, "I am also surprised by the remarks from Sergey Lavrov. Taking into account the humanitarian crisis caused by Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the request of the Armenian side to postpone the meeting between me and the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Azerbaijan scheduled in Moscow was forwarded by the Armenian Foreign Ministry and the Armenian Embassy in Russia to both the representatives of the central apparatus of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Armenia. Otherwise, it is inexplicable how the Russian Foreign Ministry could announce the non-departure of the Armenian side to Moscow much sooner than the Armenian Foreign Ministry would have announced it and its reasons."

The Armenian Foreign Ministry announced on December 22 that Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan postponed the talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Azerbaijan’s Jeyhun Bayramov, scheduled for Friday, because his top priority now is to help reopen the Lachin corridor and address the “humanitarian crisis” in Karabakh. According to the ministry spokesman, Vahan Hunanyan, the meeting was scheduled before large groups of Azerbaijanis blocked the sole road connecting Karabakh to Armenia on December 12.