Zakhrova: 'Yerevan Preferred Not to Fulfill Its Signatures, But to Seek Its Fortune in NATO and the EU'

Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, expressed her condolences regarding the death of Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh. She stated, 'The Russian peacekeepers bore the brunt for the sake of peace in the region. The ingratitude with which unscrupulous people tried to cast doubt on their activities will not overshadow their heroism but will leave eternal shame on the slanderers.'

Zakharova then presented facts indicating that at the beginning of 2022, Yerevan had in its hands tripartite statements signed by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, dated November 9, 2020, January 11, 2021, and November 26, 2020, which laid out a political and practical roadmap for how to peacefully, mutually respect, and fundamentally build life in the region, taking into account the interests of all parties.

'Yerevan chose not to implement what it signed but to seek its fortune in NATO/EU. The statement adopted on October 6, 2022, at the Prague Summit, mediated by Brussels and the chief advisor from Paris, literally states: 'Azerbaijan and Armenia reaffirm their commitment to the UN Charter and the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991, through which they recognize each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty.' This means that Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan. At the same time, the text does not contain any word about the need to ensure the rights and security of the region's residents. It was officially published on October 7, 2022. This became Yerevan's final resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Why did Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian authorities act in this way? Why did Paris and Brussels urge official Yerevan to do this? These questions should be directed at them,' said Zakharova.