Zakhrova Comments on Armenia's Presented 'Peace Crossroads'

The official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, has commented on Armenia's presented 'Peace Crossroads' initiative. In Moscow, Yerevan's 'Peace Crossroads' initiative is considered constructive and aligned with various projects.

“Yerevan's initiative corresponds to the programs that have been discussed in recent years under the co-chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia within the framework of the trilateral working group. It addresses the unblocking of economic and transport communications in the region and, in our deep conviction, plays a crucial role in the process of normalizing relations between Baku and Yerevan, contributing to the stabilization of the entire South Caucasus and the revelation of transit and logistics potential,” Zakharova stated.

She recalled that the leaders of the three countries decided to create a trilateral working group just a few months after the end of military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh in the fall of 2020. “So far, 12 meetings of this group have been held, and a huge amount of work has been done to assess the current state of regional logistics infrastructure and to select optimal projects for railway and automobile communications. We have succeeded in coming close to a package solution that is beneficial to all parties,” Zakharova added.

She expressed regret that a final resolution on these matters has not yet been achieved, noting that some simply lack the political will to do so, and emphasized that Russia is not among them. “As before, we are ready to provide the necessary support for the unblocking of communications in the region, including based on the trilateral statements made at the highest level on November 9, 2020, and January 11, 2021. Russia's role is clearly defined there,” Zakharova emphasized.

According to her, the regional advisory '3+3' format is a good platform for finding mutually acceptable solutions for the countries of the region. She expressed hope that transportation issues will be discussed at the meeting scheduled for 2024 in Turkey. “I am confident that the constructive proposals from Yerevan in this format will be in demand,” Zakharova concluded.