Russia Supports Azerbaijan, Armenia Peace Talks

(MENAFN) Russia has expressed its approval of the direct negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which took place in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. The discussions aim to secure a peace agreement following years of ongoing conflict.

This was confirmed by the Kremlin on Thursday.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan initiated talks in the Gulf country and agreed to pursue further discussions between the two nations.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Russia is pleased with these direct dialogues, noting, "We, of course, welcome the fact of such direct dialogue, and we have repeatedly said at various levels that we would welcome the earliest possible signing of a peace treaty."

Peskov emphasized that a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia would be crucial in bringing "predictability, stability and peace to the region."

He further added that Russia fully supports the ongoing peace process.

The relationship between the two former Soviet republics has been strained since 1991, when Armenian forces occupied Karabakh, a territory that is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, along with seven other neighboring areas.

Following a 44-day war in the fall of 2020, Azerbaijan regained control over most of the region, after a peace agreement brokered by Russia.

This agreement paved the way for normalization efforts and the start of talks on border demarcation.

In September 2023, Azerbaijan asserted complete sovereignty over Karabakh after separatist forces in the region surrendered.

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