US, EU playing spoiler roles to halt Armenian-Azerbaijani ties from improving: Russia

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Wednesday blamed the US and EU for playing spoiler roles in halting the improvement of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, saying instead of seeking a compromise, the West is "forcing concessions for one side and making threats to the other."

All territorial disputes between Baku and Yerevan should be resolved solely through political and diplomatic means within the framework of the bilateral commission on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Zakharova said in response to a question from an Anadolu correspondent at a press briefing in Moscow.

"For our part, we stand ready to offer every possible assistance towards this goal and we believe that the time has long come to resume the rhythmic work of the Russia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral mechanisms," she noted.

Zakharova called on partners "to show political will and resume contacts in proven formats," which have previously been used to initiate effective efforts to address the most challenging issues, including border demarcation, the reopening of regional transport routes, and the development of a peace treaty.

"Unlike the European Union and the US, which are employing tactics of forcing concessions for one side and making threats to the other, we have always advocated a comprehensive, compromise settlement of existing differences in the interests of establishing sustainable peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus," she said.

Azerbaijan on Sunday warned of an Armenian military buildup on the border, saying any provocation would be "resolutely suppressed."

In a statement, the Defense Ministry said intense movements and military buildups by the Armenian army have recently been seen.

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

Most of the territory was liberated by Azerbaijan during a war in the fall of 2020, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace agreement that also opened the door to normalization.

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