Azerbaijan's Ambassador Summoned by Russian Foreign Ministry

Azerbaijan's ambassador has been summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry in connection with "inappropriate comments by Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry regarding the statement made by the Russian Foreign Ministry on July 15." This was reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko and Polad Bulbuloglu, the Russian side reaffirmed the necessity of the "comprehensive and immediate unblocking of the Lachin corridor, as well as the restoration of transport links in both directions along it in accordance with the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, and creating conditions for the normal livelihood of Nagorno-Karabakh."

Rudenko stated that the Russian side is prepared to organize a trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers in Moscow to discuss the implementation of agreements at the highest level, including the agreement on a peace treaty that would be followed by a summit of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia in Moscow for the signing of the peace treaty.

On July 16, Baku expressed confusion and disappointment regarding the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement about Nagorno-Karabakh. According to a statement from Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, the Russian Foreign Ministry's remarks "do not correspond to the declaration of mutual cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation and to the speeches of Russian President Vladimir Putin in support of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including that of the Karabakh region."

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Armenia's recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan "radically changed the fundamental conditions" under which the statement of November 9, 2020, was signed.

"In the summits held under the auspices of the European Union in October 2022 and May 2023, Armenia recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. We respect the sovereign decision made by Armenia's leadership; however, this has radically changed the fundamental conditions under which the November 9, 2020, statement of the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan was signed, as well as the situation regarding the Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed in the region," the statement reads.

In the view of the Russian Foreign Ministry, "in this context, there is no need to place the responsibility for the fate of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh on third countries; it is necessary to urgently begin the preparation of a peace treaty between Yerevan and Baku based on previously reached agreements."

It was noted that this treaty should include "reliable and clear guarantees for the rights and security of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the full implementation of trilateral agreements, including the unblocking of communications and the launch of delimitation processes."

Expressing concern about the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh, the Russian Foreign Ministry called on Baku to take immediate measures to unblock the Lachin corridor and to ensure energy supply to the region.