Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian-Turkish Relations: Excerpts from the Joint Statement by Pashinyan and Putin

The Prime Minister of Armenia, N.V. Pashinyan, paid an official visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin on April 19-20, 2022. This was reported by the official website of the Kremlin, which published the text of the joint statement by the leaders of the two countries.

According to the statement, the parties agreed to adhere to the existing trilateral agreements of November 26, 2021. They requested the expedited creation of a bilateral commission on delimitation and security issues in the territory of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border with the advisory support of the Russian Federation.

The leaders exchanged views on the situation prevailing in the South Caucasus. They expressed support for the continuation of constructive work within the framework of regular meetings of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia and the consistent implementation of the agreements reached on November 9, January 11, and November 26, 2020, in the interest of maintaining stability, security, and economic development in the region.

They emphasized the decisive contribution of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to ensuring security and creating favorable and safe conditions for the life of the population in Nagorno-Karabakh. They highlighted the urgent need for rapid solutions to humanitarian issues and the necessity of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh issue through political and diplomatic means. In this context, they noted the importance of utilizing the capacity and experience of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship in accordance with its international mandate.

P. Putin and N. Pashinyan welcomed the process of normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations, which was initiated with the support of Russia. The leaders stressed the importance of the functioning of the Trilateral Working Group aimed at unblocking all economic ties and transport communications in the South Caucasus, co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia.

The Russian side expressed readiness to participate in the rehabilitation projects of Armenia's railway infrastructure, including railways in Syunik and other regions of the Republic of Armenia.

“P. Putin and N. Pashinyan expressed deep concern over the worsening situation in international security and noted that no state, union, or coalition can or should ensure its security at the expense of the security of others. They condemned actions aimed at undermining the arms control architecture and gaining unilateral military advantages at the expense of others' security. The parties emphasized the need to enhance joint efforts to counter international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The parties welcomed the intentions of Russian entrepreneurs to create complete and modern production cycles in Armenia. They expressed interest in the development of energy, including renewable energy initiatives, energy security and independence, respect for nature, and the development of energy programs based on sustainable development principles.

It was decided to further facilitate the flow of Russian investments into Armenia.