A trilateral meeting among the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia ends in Moscow - UPDATED-2 - VIDEO

A trilateral meeting among the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia ends in Moscow - UPDATED-2 - VIDEO
# 11 January 2021 18:46 (UTC +04:00)

A trilateral meeting among Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan ended, APA reports citing RIA Novosti.

The meeting lasted about 4 hours.

***16:39

As reported earlier, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is on a working visit in Moscow on the invitation of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, APA reports.

A trilateral meeting is being held among Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Speaking at the meeting, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin said:

- Dear Ilham Heydar oglu.

- Dear Nikol Vovayevich.

I am very glad to welcome you in Moscow. I am grateful to you for accepting our offer to discuss the implementation of the Tripartite Statement on Nagorno-Karabakh signed on November 9 last year, the next steps to eliminate the existing problems and restore peace in the region.

Russia appreciates the partnership and good neighborly relations that bind our countries and peoples. Therefore, we followed the escalating armed conflict with excitement and concern for the fate of the people. Unfortunately, large-scale military operations have resulted in a large number of casualties, exacerbated the already complicated situation in the South Caucasus, and increased the risk of the spread of terrorism.

Dear colleagues, I would like to thank you for your positive response to the active mediation efforts of the Russian side to stop the bloodshed, help stabilize the situation, and achieve a lasting ceasefire. The diplomatic and military departments of our countries have worked hard to resolve this complex issue. We have always been in touch with you, we have sought a compromise together.

As a result of our joint efforts, as well as after our phone conversations on the night of November 9th, the tripartite statement was agreed and we signed it with you. As it is known, firstly, the complete cessation of hostilities, sending Russian peacekeepers to the region, most importantly, providing comprehensive and effective assistance to the civilian population affected by military conflicts to return to normal life have been noted in this base document.

In this case, I would like to emphasize that Russia has tried to follow the basic rules of the OSCE Minsk Group in all its activities.

We continue to coordinate our actions with our partners - the Minsk Group co-chairs.

Today we can note with pleasure that the tripartite agreements are consistently realized. We are sure that this will create the necessary initial conditions for long-term and full-format adjustment of the long-running conflict on a just basis, in accordance with the interests of both the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples.

A Russian peacekeeping contingent has been deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh at the request of Armenian and Azerbaijani sides to control the ceasefire on the line of contact and along the Lachin corridor. An effective system has been established to ensure compliance with the ceasefire. There are 23 observation posts operate in the zone of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers, and four additional posts are responsible for traffic safety along the corridor. Currently, the situation in the region is calm.

We are working hard for the safe return of internally displaced persons and refugees. Since November 14, more than 48 thousand people have returned to Karabakh. The captives and the bodies of those who died were exchanged with the mediation of Russia.

The International Humanitarian Monitoring Center operates successfully.

Specialists of our countries solve key issues related to the regulation of normal life of settlements, restoration of destroyed infrastructure, protection of historical, religious, and cultural monuments within the framework of this center. Employees of the center are engaged in the restoration of energy and heat supply.

More than 800 tons of construction materials, in total, more than 1.5 million tons of humanitarian luggage have been delivered to the conflict zone from Russia. People are provided with medical assistance. An area of more than 479 hectares has been demined, 182 kilometers road, 710 buildings have been controlled. More than 22 thousand things with the danger of explosion have been found and destroyed.

I think, agreement of the next steps on main regulation directions, noted in the joint statement dated November 9 of the previous year, would firstly be important today. I consider issues regarding the activity of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, determination of demarcation lines, solution of humanitarian problems, protection of cultural heritage objects.

Restoration of economic, trade, and transport relations in the region, the issue of opening borders is worth paying special attention to. It is considered that a trilateral special working group will deal with these issues with the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.

Dear counterparts, I want to note my hope that our negotiations today will be held in a working condition, will serve for the provision of strong peace, security, and sustainable social-economic development in the region. No doubt, all of us are interested in this.”

***16:04

Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to discuss new steps in the main directions of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, said Russian President Vladimir Putin in a speech at a trilateral meeting in the Kremlin, APA's Moscow bureau reports.

Putin said that the agreement on Karabakh is being implemented consistently, which creates a basis for a just settlement of the conflict: “Today we can note with satisfaction that the trilateral statement is being implemented consistently. We are confident that this will pave the way for a long-term and full-fledged, just settlement of the conflict in the interests of the Azerbaijani and Armenian peoples."

The Russian President noted that the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is calm and 48,000 IDPs have returned.

V. Putin said that today it would be important to note the next steps taken over the main directions of the settlement arising from the joint statement of November 9 last year: “I mean the activities of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, the clarification of demarcation lines, the solution of humanitarian problems and the protection of cultural facilities”

The Russian leader noted that special attention should be paid to the restoration of economic, trade, and transport ties and the opening of borders in the region.

“A trilateral special working group chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia are expected to deal with these issues,” V. Putin noted.

Russian President has expressed hope that the negotiations will be held in a business condition and will serve to ensure strong peace, security and consistent socio-economic development in the region: “Of course, we are all interested in this”

***15:14

Trilateral meeting among Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has started in Moscow, APA's Moscow bureau reports.

At the meeting in Kremlin is expected to review the implementation of the trilateral statement on Nagorno-Karabakh signed on November 10, 2020, and discuss further steps to address the region's problems.

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