Meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

On June 9, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and his delegation.

"At the moment, the main issue on our agenda is related to the regional situation, security, and the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Of course, we are also intensively discussing other issues with Russia. For example, the opening of regional communications. The meeting of the trilateral working group headed by the Deputy Prime Ministers of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan took place recently in Moscow. I hope that soon we will be able to reach concrete agreements to resolve this issue of strategic importance for the benefit of the whole region, for the sake of stability and peace," Pashinyan said.

"The normalization agenda of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan is also essential. You know that the first meeting of the bilateral working commission on demarcation and delimitation of the border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan took place recently. The second meeting will be held in Moscow; the third meeting will occur in Brussels. In this context, we expect the support of the Russian Federation for this process to take place and proceed in a normal way and be effective," he added.

"We are committed to all the decisions to deepen our strategic partnership and allied cooperation and strengthen our bilateral relations in general. Today we discussed in detail with Ararat Samvelovich the tasks you have set for us at the highest level. I know this work is one of the priorities within the Intergovernmental Economic Commission. But, as you mentioned, dear Nikol Vovaevich, regional issues deserve special attention now. Implementing the trilateral statements of November 2020, January, and November 2021 is our priority. We are interested that all the directions and actions set out there, aimed at the complete normalization of the situation in the region, the settlement of all issues, including humanitarian ones, to be resolved as soon as possible. As you mentioned, the trilateral working group on unblocking transport and economic communications at the level of Deputy Prime Ministers is in the advanced stage of agreeing on specific aspects of the final agreements. We have discussed what additional steps need to be taken, and we will report to you," Lavrov stated.

Nikol Pashinyan and Sergey Lavrov discussed issues related to the Armenian-Russian strategic partnership, the regional stability and peace agenda, the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and the normalization process of the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.

In the context of the comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Prime Minister of Armenia stressed the vital role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Meeting with Foreign Minister

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan called the bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, which took place on June 9 in Yerevan, constructive and sincere.

"We had a constructive and sincere meeting on bilateral cooperation, partnership on international platforms, on regional and international security issues," said the head of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia at a joint press conference.

 He also touched upon the results of the recent talks between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, noting that the two countries' leaders "approved important directions for the development of our relations." "We positively assessed the effective work of all mechanisms of the strategic alliance, including trade, economic and military-technical cooperation, as well as the work of intergovernmental, inter-parliamentary commissions," Mirzoyan said.

The parties discussed a possible agreement on the settlement of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the process of settling the Karabakh conflict, Mirzoyan informed. The parties also considered issues of interaction within the framework of the CSTO, the EAEU, the CIS, and other international platforms.

"Yerevan believes that the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh can restore the status quo established by the tripartite statement of the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020, and violated by the invasion of the Azerbaijani troops in the village of Parukh on March 24,” said Ararat Mirzoyan. Armenia highly appreciates Russia's efforts to implement the provisions of the said tripartite statement, in particular, on the return of Armenian detainees from Baku. The head of the Armenian diplomacy recalled that the Azerbaijani side, in violation of international humanitarian norms, a year and a half after the cessation of hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh, still refuses to return prisoners of war and detained civilians.

“The situation in the Karabakh village of Parukh is in the center of close attention of Russian peacekeepers,” Sergey Lavrov assured. "As for the situation (in Parukh), it is a priority for the Russian military," the Russian Foreign Minister noted.

"Russia contributes in every possible way to normalizing relations between Yerevan and Baku," stated Sergey Lavrov. "Our leaders met three times to resolve practical issues to end the conflict," the head of Russian diplomacy recalled. According to him, there is a common understanding that the process is moving forward.

"Of course, the parties have their specific vision, which does not always coincide. In particular, regarding how to work at the forthcoming stage. Our partners and we have the same understanding: three statements at the highest level are a clear roadmap that we should all be guided by," the head of the foreign ministry said.

Russia is ready to provide consultative assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan in the delimitation and subsequent demarcation of the border of the two Transcaucasian republics, including by providing maps, the minister assured.

Lavrov also drew attention to the work of the tripartite commission to unblock transport communications in the post-war region. The Russian minister expressed confidence that all issues would eventually be resolved. The regime of rail and road communication will be based on the sovereignty of the Armenian territory, he stated, commenting on Baku's statements regarding the opening of the "Zangezur corridor" from the enclave of Nakhchivan to Azerbaijan through Armenia. According to him, the vice-premiers of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan are working "rhythmically" within the said trilateral commission. They are preparing solutions to those issues that have yet to be agreed upon.

"As you know, the railway route has been agreed, now the agreement on the road route and the regime to be established is being completed. The regime will be simplified, but it will be based on recognizing the sovereignty of the Armenian territory. There can be no ambiguities here," the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed. Currently, issues related to practical actions on the ground, with the creation of infrastructure for many years to come, are being resolved. “Therefore, it is better to weigh it ten times than to chop off the shoulder,” Lavrov expressed confidence, adding that there is a complete feeling that the Armenian and Azerbaijani colleagues proceed from this.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, in turn, noted that the process is going on in a working atmosphere, and the parties have reached a mutual understanding on many issues. In particular, there is a common understanding that all roads remain and operate within the sovereignty of the countries they pass. At the same time, the Armenian minister continued, there are many details on which the parties hold different positions.

Reaction from opposition

Armenian opposition leaders said any deal with the existing rulers was "null and worthless" during protests staged during the Russian Foreign Minister's meeting with his Armenian counterpart. During negotiations between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ararat Mirzoyan, protesters gathered in front of the Armenian Foreign Ministry. While police were sent to protect the facility, the demonstrations were nonviolent, with organizers giving multiple statements directly to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The demonstrations, according to Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a prominent protest leader and the head of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation party, were not held in protest of Lavrov's visit but rather to make the statement that the current government with which Russia is in talks has "nothing to do with the will and position of the Armenian people. On June 9, he reminded the assembled protestors that "any deal struck with them is null and invalid."

“The current government of Armenia endangers the Armenian-Russian relations,” Vardevanyan said. In his speech at the Foreign Ministry building, a member of the Armenia faction Aram Vardevanyan addressed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "We must state that the group of people in power no longer represents the interests of the Armenian people and Nagorno-Karabakh," he said. Vardevanyan stressed that Russia has been and will remain an ally of Armenia and the Armenian people. However, the people who came to power four years ago have done everything possible to jeopardize Armenian-Russian relations. 

Moreover, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Lynne Tracy, entered the building of the Armenian Foreign Ministry shortly before the meeting of Armenian and Russian Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan and Sergey Lavrov was to take place there.

Azerbaijan’s reaction to Lavrov’s remarks

Leyla Abdullayeva, the spokeswoman of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, responded to the media's request to comment on the opinion of the Russian Foreign Minister that the situation with the village of Farrukh (Parukh in Armenian) in Nagorno-Karabakh will be considered in the context of delimitation of the borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia at a press conference during the visit of the Russian Foreign Minister to Armenia.

"We would like to note that the activities of the delimitation commissions established by Azerbaijan and Armenia are aimed at delimiting the state border of the two countries, as previously planned. This process does not envisage consideration of any issue outside the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, including the territories of the Russian peacekeeping contingent of the Republic of Azerbaijan," she said.