Kremlin says Putin, Pashinyan discuss issues regarding Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed over the phone issues related to the normalization of the Caucasus nation's ties with neighboring Azerbaijan, the Kremlin said on Friday.

"The Russian side confirmed its readiness to continue to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan in developing a peace treaty, advancing the process of border delimitation and demarcation, as well as unblocking transport and logistics links," the Kremlin said in a statement.

The statement added that Putin and Pashinyan also touched on the Russian president's recent two-day visit to Azerbaijan's capital Baku in light of the normalization efforts.

In an exchange on the bilateral agenda, they took highlighted positive dynamics in trade and economic cooperation between Moscow and Yerevan.

A separate statement by Pashinyan's office said he and Putin agreed to meet in the near future "to discuss issues on the bilateral agenda between Armenia and Russia."

While in Baku on Aug. 18-19, Putin affirmed Russia's willingness to engage in the peace process to the extent deemed appropriate by both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Relations between Baku and Yerevan have remained tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Most of the territory was liberated by Azerbaijan during a 44-day war in the fall of 2020, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace agreement that opened the door to normalization and talks on border demarcation.

Last September, Azerbaijan established full sovereignty in Karabakh following an "anti-terrorist operation," after which separatist forces in the region surrendered.