Moscow "does not seek to monopolise the Karabakh peace process"

The Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, speaking in Yerevan where she was accompanying Foreign Minister Lavrov on a visit to Armenia,  has dismissed accusations that Russia has been monopolising the Karabakh peace process, or that it refused to share information after the St Petersburg summit in June. At that meeting President Putin brought together the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan for discussions on the settlement of the conflict. It was reported that the co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group that is authorised to mediate in the conflict were only invited in at the end of the meeting.

"There were concerns that Russia allegedly tried to monopolise that process, and does not want to share information and so on. However, during and after the St. Petersburg meeting, everyone made sure that  the mediators were duly informed of the discussions and did not feel left out of the process." Zakharova said that the sides in the conflict, and the mediators "highly evaluated the effectiveness of that meeting,"  

Asked about future meetings between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan Zakharova said  "Where and when the presidents should meet is an information that they should provide by themselves. We can say that the Russian President, Foreign Minister, and the entire foreign ministry has made great efforts in that regard. We do it through bilateral and multilateral channels and within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group . We are doing all this, since  we understand that each day of delay may pose threats against civilians".

sourec: commonspace.eu with agencies

image : The Russian Foreign Ministry building in Moscow (archive picture)

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Aden under curfew, as problem in Yemen's south deepens

Aden under curfew, as problem in Yemen's south deepens

The port city of Aden, in Yemen's south, has been put under curfew, as the rift in the country between  the Saudi led coalition which  backs Yemen's presidential governing council, and the southern forces led by the Southern Transitional Council (STC), deepens. Abdul Rahman al-Mahrami, a member of the Yemeni Presidential Governing Council and commander of the al-Amalik brigades, has ordered a curfew in the temporary capital, Aden, "to maintain security". "A curfew has been imposed throughout Aden Governorate from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., in accordance with the instructions of Commander Abdul Rahman al-Mahrami, a member of the Presidential Management Council," the statement said. It states that only security and military personnel, as well as medical and technical teams with approved permits, will be allowed to move in the area during these hours. Yemen's presidential council, which is backed by Saudi Arabia and which already is in a struggle with the Houthi Movement in the north of the country who also occupy the capital Sanaa, two days ago issued an order for the arrest of the head of the Southern Transitional Council (STC),, Aidarous al Zubaidi. The STC have wide support among people in the South, and advocate that South Yemen restores its independence. The coalition warned of further escalation in Aden, long regarded as an STC stronghold, as the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) chief accused STC leader Aidarous Al Zubaidi of “high treason” and announced the revocation of his membership in the governing body. The moves mark a sharp escalation in tensions within the anti-Houthi camp, despite National Shield Forces, rivals of the STC and former allies, having recently retaken control of Hadhramaut and Mahra from southern fighters. The STC’s takeover of the two regions last month angered Saudi Arabia and contributed to igniting the current internal conflict. (click the picture to read more)

Popular

Editor's choice
Analysis
Analysis: Why what happens in Greenland matters

Analysis: Why what happens in Greenland matters

The snap elections for the parliament of Greenland last Tuesday (6 April 2021) attracted unusual interest from major powers who have been watching the political and economic impact of the election results on their interests in the Arctic region. Among them, the Chinese, who have invested in the Kvanefjeld mine on the island. Maximiliaan van Lange analyses the background to the recent Greenlandic general elections, and the Island's geostrategic position in the Arctic in this article for commonspace.eu.