US and France Unprepared to Continue Engagement with Russia in OSCE Minsk Group Format: Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that the United States and France are unprepared to continue communications with Russia in the OSCE Minsk Group format. As reported by Armenpress, Lavrov made this announcement during a press conference held on April 8.

“Regarding the activities and future of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship, I do not know what the future will hold, because our so-called partners—the French and the Americans—within the framework of their Russophobic manifestations have canceled everything related to the Russian Federation. They have also canceled the OSCE Minsk Group format, declaring that they are unprepared to communicate with us in that format. It is their right if they are willing to sacrifice the interests of Nagorno-Karabakh and, in general, the regulation of the South Caucasus. If they are willing to sacrifice, in this case, the interests of the Armenian side, then that is their choice,” he noted.

According to Lavrov, the US and France are making not only the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict but all conflicts in the region hostages to their anti-Russian policy. He believes that Washington and Paris are forcing all countries to cease cooperation with Russia in all formats in order to impose their unilateral will.

“I think this approach is absolutely irresponsible. They will not push us out of the general line. We are committed, as we have always been, to resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and supporting the implementation of all agreements reached in the trilateral format between the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. This choice is not ours. And if France and the US have decided to act this way, then God is their judge,” Lavrov concluded.