Lavrov Cautions Against Rushed Armenian-Azerbaijani Peace Deal
On November 5, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that concluding a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia requires both parties' time and substantial efforts to reach mutually acceptable solutions.
“We welcome the significant progress made within the Azerbaijani-Armenian peace process. Given the years of hostility, military actions, and casualties on both sides, we understand the challenges Baku and Yerevan face in advancing toward normalization,” Lavrov emphasized. He noted that the process demands “considerable efforts” from both sides to achieve balanced solutions and additional time.
Unlike “Western pseudo-mediators,” Lavrov explained, Russia does not pressure its partners to finalize a peace treaty hastily. “A hasty peace without comprehensively considering the positions of Baku and Yerevan, as well as the realities on the ground, will not lead to anything beneficial; rather, it will create further risks of tension and potential escalation of the conflict,” he stated.
Lavrov further remarked that Russia aims for sustainable peace and stability in the South Caucasus. He added, “We believe it is essential to anchor the peace process within a regional framework, involving the South Caucasus nations and neighboring partner states, while preventing destructive external interference.” Lavrov criticized Washington and Brussels' attempts to exclude Russia from the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization process, warning that such efforts “only heighten security threats in the region.”