Russian Foreign Ministry Special Representative Visits Baku to Discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations: Zakharova

Igor Khovaev, the special representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry for supporting the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, is currently in Baku. This information was provided by Maria Zakharova, the official spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, during a press briefing.

She reminded that on November 14, Khovaev was in Yerevan, where he held a series of consultations with the political leadership of Armenia.

"Now he is in Baku to meet with the Azerbaijani side. During these communications, the issue of the peace treaty is also being discussed," Zakharova stated.

Regarding the statements made in Yerevan and Baku about the peace treaty, she noted that the topic of the peace treaty, as well as other issues of Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement, are very complex and sensitive in nature.

"We do not find it appropriate to comment on the positions of the parties until specific agreements are reached," she concluded.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan proposed in the National Assembly to sign a framework agreement instead of a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. According to him, the peace treaty implies the completion of border delimitation and demarcation, which may take years to accomplish.

Therefore, Yerevan supports the demilitarization of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border at the outset, calling for the withdrawal of troops to mirror positions, and suggests using the 1990 maps as a basis for border determination.

Subsequently, he stated, border guards should be stationed, and for some time, this issue should be put to rest. After that, a framework document should be signed, and the delimitation process should begin.