Inclusive dialogue within "3+3" platform and countering of  extra-regional forces` geopolitical dictatorship key to the  prosperity of South Caucasus - Mikhail Galuzin

ArmInfo. We welcome the holding of negotiations between the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and 

Armenia on a peace treaty on May 10 and 11 in Almaty. Another step has been taken towards achieving reliable and long-term peace and stability in the South Caucasus, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Galuzin stated in an interview with NEWS.ru in response to a request to assess the prospects of Astana 

becoming a new negotiating platform for the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement.

Kazakhstan provided a platform for bilateral negotiations between 

Yerevan and Baku on the normalization of relations. Negotiations took 

place on May 10-11 in Almaty.

"We fully support Astana's efforts in this direction. If we look at 

history, Kazakhstan made a significant contribution to the 

development and adoption of the Zheleznovodsk Declaration in 

September 1991 - one of the first serious attempts to end the 

military confrontation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. It is 

important that contacts in Almaty are in line with the trilateral 

agreements at the highest level for 2020- 2022, which determined the 

roadmap for normalizing relations between Baku and Yerevan," the 

Russian diplomat added.

Regarding the deployment of European observers in Armenia, Galuzin 

recalled that Moscow has repeatedly commented on this topic.

"Unfortunately, our fears have been confirmed - the EU observation 

mission in Armenia has actually turned into a paramilitary Western 

operation with the involvement of NATO member countries and dubious 

goals.  Its staff has already been at least doubled, new strongholds 

are opening. Just recently, Yerevan was An agreement was imposed on 

the status of the EU presence, granting it most favored nation 

treatment and freedom of action on Armenian territory.

The fact that the mission is an instrument of the EU's hybrid war 

confirms its secrecy, lack of accountability, and lack of control by 

either Armenia, Azerbaijan, or other interested countries and 

structures. The mission conducts openly provocative activities, is 

fully engaged in anti-Russian propaganda, instilling false ideas in 

the Armenian society about the European Union as a "source of 

security and prosperity" for Armenia. Moreover, the EU's activities 

are becoming increasingly anti- Azerbaijani and anti-Iranian in 

nature," the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister expressed confidence.

According to him, if we talk about the tasks of ensuring long-term 

regional security, stability and socio- economic development, then 

the plans of Westerners to militarize the region and expand the 

military- political influence of the EU and NATO there are completely 

inconsistent with them.  "The key to the prosperity of the South 

Caucasus is an inclusive dialogue, in particular within the framework 

of the 3+3 consultative regional platform, the search for collective 

answers to emerging issues and countering the geopolitical dictates 

of extra-regional forces," he added.

When asked how Russia relates to the so-called "Zangezur Corridor," 

Galuzin noted that Moscow uses this term (Azerbaijani narrative - 

ed.).

"Russia does not stand for the creation of any one specific route, 

but for the complete unblocking of economic and transport 

communications in the South Caucasus. This is what the trilateral 

working group (TWG), created in 2021 by decision of the leaders of 

Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, under the joint chairmanship of the 

Vice-Chairman, is doing. -the prime ministers of three countries," 

added the deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

In this vein, he recalled that rhythmic work was carried out in the 

TWG, and significant results were achieved. Thus, at the 12th meeting 

of the group in June 2023, a common understanding was agreed on the 

restoration and organization of railway communication between Armenia 

and Azerbaijan.

"We have almost reached a comprehensive, balanced agreement. However, 

the process has stalled through no fault of ours. Under pressure from 

Western countries, Yerevan decided to freeze trilateral cooperation 

on this track as well.

We consider it necessary to resume full-fledged work of the TWG as 

soon as possible, not only to unblock the transport and communication 

system of the South Caucasus, but also to establish sustainable peace 

in the region," concluded Galuzin.

The Meghri route is a project of a transport route about 40 km long 

through the territory of the Syunik region of Armenia, which would 

provide transport links between the western regions of Azerbaijan and 

its exclave Nakhijevan Autonomous Republic. The opening of transport 

routes in the region was provided for by the agreements that ended 

the 44-day Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh in the fall of 

2020.  However, Azerbaijan is trying to obtain an extraterritorial 

corridor from Armenia by applying pressure.