Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to media questions at a joint news conference following talks with Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, Baku, February 28, 2023

Mr Bayramov,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to be in hospitable and sunny Baku again. We are grateful to our Azerbaijani hosts for the impeccable organisation of the visit, and for their traditional cordiality and hospitality. I would like to express my gratitude to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev for the in-depth conversation we had yesterday, when the head of Azerbaijan received the delegation upon our arrival. The discussion covered all areas of our cooperation.

This visit is timed to coincide with the first anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on Allied Interaction between the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan on February 22, 2022. In this Declaration, our presidents set forth a new quality of relations between the two countries and instructed all government agencies including the foreign ministries, to work on promoting and detailing the goals outlined in this historic document. Following yesterday's talks with the President of Azerbaijan, today, my colleague Jeyhun Bayramov and I, with the delegations present on both sides, thoroughly discussed all areas of strategic partnership and allied cooperation between our countries in bilateral formats as well as in international and regional affairs. We have no doubts, but have a common understanding that deeper allied interaction between the two countries will play an important and stabilising role in regional affairs.

We praised the quality of the bilateral political dialogue, above all at the highest level where the main areas of further work are set. In 2022 alone, presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev had seven meetings and 12 telephone conversation. The frequency of their contacts has been maintained this year, too. We share the opinion that the high degree of mutual understanding and trust that has developed between the two leaders is the most important component in promoting the entire range of interstate cooperation.

The first visit of the Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin to Azerbaijan took place on November 18, 2022, and the 11th Russian-Azerbaijani Interregional Forum was timed to coincide with it. This year, the 12th forum will be held with the participation of our regions, which will be held on the territory of the Russian Federation.

We are glad to see interparliamentary ties deepening. On September 26, 2022 State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin visited Baku. On February 13, 2023, Moscow received Chair of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova. She held meetings with the leaders of both chambers of our Federal Assembly.

We welcome the dynamic development of trade and economic ties. According to all forecasts, a record trade volume of $4 billion is expected at the end of the year. We spoke in favour of further building up practical cooperation through the implementation of large flagship or, as we also call them, mega-projects, such as the development of the North-South international transport corridor, cooperation in the fuel and energy sector, and cooperation in industrial production. Russian economic operators are ready to continue actively participating in the post-conflict restoration of Azerbaijani territories.

We have discussed the preparation process for the 21st meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation scheduled for April 2023 in Moscow. We have agreed to promote the well-established practice of reciprocal business missions and business forums.

My colleague has already mentioned cultural and humanitarian interaction. For my part, I thanked our Azerbaijani friends for the traditional support of the Russian language and culture.

We expressed mutual satisfaction with the deepening of exchanges between the two countries’ youth. Last year, two forums of Russia-Azerbaijan youth initiatives were held: in March 2022, in Qusar (Azerbaijan), in September, in Nizhny Novgorod. We will continue to promote these important undertakings, as well as continue to support other contacts through civil society, political science organisations and the expert community.

Dialogue and practical cooperation between our ministries of foreign affairs are steadily developing. We have a two-year plan of consultations between our foreign ministries. Today we have discussed upcoming activities for its implementation. We regularly communicate with Mr Bayramov. Last December we met twice in Moscow, today in Baku. I am pleased to invite Jeyhun Bayramov to pay another visit to the Russian Federation.

Today we talked a lot about measures to strengthen peace, security and stability in the South Caucasus. We discussed issues related to Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation. We reaffirmed our commitment to the strict implementation of all the provisions of the statements by the leaders of the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Four statements have been made since November 2020 (November 9, 2020, January 11, 2021, November 26, 2021, and October 31, 2022). These statements form the basis of our joint work.

During the talks, we spoke about unblocking transport and economic ties in the South Caucasus. We hope that soon the deputy prime ministers – co-chairs of the relevant Trilateral Working Group – will manage to reach specific agreements on resuming use of the railway route between the main territory of Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan.

We stressed the need to intensify the work of the commission on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, established with the understanding that the Russian Federation would provide advisory assistance to this work. We are ready for this, as well as to facilitate the conclusion of a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan. Our friends briefed us in detail today on how they see the continuation of these normalisation efforts.

We noted the importance of the rhythmic work of the 3+3 Consultative Regional Platform (the three countries of the South Caucasus and their neighbours – Russia, Turkey, Iran). It opens up additional opportunities for establishing a dialogue and developing multifaceted cooperation between the countries of the region and their neighbours.

We agreed to continue close cooperation within the Caspian Five and support each other's initiatives within the CIS, the UN and its various specialised bodies.

We also spoke about our cooperation on the serious problems that the OSCE faces. We gave a positive assessment to the efforts made by Azerbaijan, which made it possible to successfully take a turn as chair of the Non-Aligned Movement. It is still going on. Just in a few days, another summit will be held here.

These were useful talks that came at an important moment. Their results will help promote our bilateral ties and contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability and security in the region.

Question: Last December, the Armenian delegation did not come to Moscow for trilateral talks. What is Russia’s mediator role today? Have there been any steps forward?

Sergey Lavrov: As for meetings between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia on a peace treaty, Russia has repeatedly provided a platform for them. In December 2022, an agreement was reached to hold the next meeting of our colleagues on the territory of the Russian Federation. Mr Bayramov has mentioned how everything developed further. Our Armenian colleagues said that they would not be able to take part in this event.

We reaffirmed our readiness to provide opportunities to continue such meetings. The Azerbaijani side is ready for this. The Armenian side stated it had no objections, but so far it has not given final consent. I do not think that we will be too persistent in offering our services, but they are well known to both sides.

Question: The declaration on allied cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan marks one year. What are the results? Now Moscow is talking a lot about turning to the South, about the importance of a southern corridor. What does this mean in practice? Is Baku part of this southern corridor?

Sergey Lavrov: In our opening remarks we tried to talk about our achievements over the year since the declaration was signed; I do not think there is need to repeat.

You have mentioned the adoption of the declaration in the context of geopolitical changes. From this point of view, I would put the agreement of the countries’ leaders on coordinating steps to create the international North-South corridor, the implementation of other infrastructure projects in the region that will increase its geopolitical significance, and the agreement on various forms of deepening cooperation in the fuel and energy sphere in the first place.

These plans, which will definitely be implemented (there is the political will from everyone on whom it depends), will significantly increase the importance of the region in world politics and economics.

Question: The development of efficient transport infrastructure as part of the North-South transport corridor, which is of strategic importance for the further development of economic relations and the strengthening of regional cooperation, deserves special attention. What measures need to be taken for the successful implementation of this project and the opening of transport links in the region?

Sergey Lavrov: I have already commented on the regional and global significance of this project. I do not think that we, as foreign ministers, should go into technical details. Our transport departments are always in contact. Our presidential offices are directly involved in the process.

We are talking about creating a continuous railway connection, including on the Rasht-Astara section. It is not a secret. This topic has been discussed for a long time. We have now got down to its practical implementation. Russia and Azerbaijan are playing a leading role in this.

Question: The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan announced the beginning of an arbitration process against Armenia for compensation for damages from the use of Karabakh’s energy resources. Can we say that the signing of a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan is unlikely in the near future? What is Russia’s position in this context?

Sergey Lavrov: Russia considers this an Azerbaijan-Armenia bilateral issue. A road that includes judicial procedures has been chosen. Let’s wait.

Question: The Sochi and Prague statements have been adopted as part of normalising relations with Armenia. They emphasise the importance of mutual recognition of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of these states in accordance with the UN Charter and the 1991 Alma-Ata declaration. However, Azerbaijan maintains that Armenia was trying to undermine its territorial integrity and sovereignty. What do you think about this situation?

Sergey Lavrov: You just said everything. This document, signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, has a reference to the Alma-Ata declaration, which is an open document. It reads that the state borders of new states that were established on Soviet territory shall be determined by the administrative borders that existed in the USSR. There is simply nothing to add.

Question: As part of border delimitation, Baku offered to remove the checkpoints at both ends of the Zangezur corridor and at the border between the Lachin District and Armenia. What is Moscow’s position on this? Was this discussed at today’s talks? Is it being discussed by the deputy prime ministers’ working group?

Sergey Lavrov:  As for the Lachin corridor, the answer is simple. The mode of operation should fully correspond to the very first trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, which means the need to ensure free movement exclusively for civilian and humanitarian cargo and civilians. This is what we are primarily trying to achieve with the Russian peacekeeping contingent. It says nothing about checkpoints that are to be set up there. However, it is possible to use technical means to eliminate any suspicions concerning the corridor being used for the intended purposes. This was mentioned today. The technical details are of secondary importance.  

Question: EU Special Envoy for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar reported that preparations are underway to hold talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels. What do you think about Brussels’ mediation in the South Caucasus in general? Do you plan similar meetings in Moscow?

Sergey Lavrov: As for statements by Brussels, we cannot comment on them in detail. We are seeing that the EU is openly abusing its relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan, in part, by pushing its “mission on Armenian territory. The legitimacy of this “mission” is questionable. It raises many questions as regards its functions, mandate, duration and the benefits that this “mission” can contribute to the efforts to normalise relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But this is the sovereign choice of the sides – they decide whom to cooperate with or not.

As I emphasised during the start of today’s talks and yesterday’s meeting with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, we are guided by the do-no-harm rule in all our actions. Most important, we are trying to contribute to the solution of all arising problems based on this main principle. Any action should be based, first, on the principled agreements reached by the three leaders in the four statements (November 9, 2020, January 11, 2021, November 26, 2021 and October 31, 2022). Second, it should ensure mutually beneficial and respectful cooperation between all countries in the region. Not all parties, especially those located a long way from the South Caucasus, are following the same principles and want to work for something rather than against someone. We can see this; I am convinced that the parties directly involved in this process see this as well.

Question: As you know, the EU has sent a monitoring mission of a hundred people to the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan for two years. Welcoming this mission, Armenian representatives described it as a “contribution to the stability and security of the region.” Before the mission’s deployment, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said Russia’s military presence in Armenia did not guarantee security but rather threatened it. He also said the EU mission could assuage Armenia’s apprehensions about a joint attack by Russia and Azerbaijan. Can you comment on these statements?

Sergey Lavrov: You just cited Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. In response to your question, you can quote my reply to the previous question. As for the statement by the Armenian leader you mentioned, I leave it completely on his conscience.