YEREVAN, May 18. /ARКА/. The Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry said delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border and its subsequent demarcation is the solution to the border standoff that emerged last week after Azerbaijani troops advanced several kilometers into the Armenian province of Syunik province early on May 12 and attempted to breach the border on two other sections of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in Sisian and Vardenis the following day, but were stopped by Armenian military units.
“We believe that all such incidents should be resolved exclusively by peaceful and negotiated means. As a long-term solution, we suggest the launch of the delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border with its subsequent demarcation. The Russian Federation is ready to contribute to the normalization of the situation in the South Caucasus,” the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
It called on the sides to hold the ceasefire regime, as well as implement other provisions of the statements of the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan dated November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021.
“We continue to closely monitor the situation. The Russian side is providing assistance to Baku and Yerevan in reducing tensions through regular contacts at the highest and high levels. Operational ties are maintained between the military and border services of our countries,” the ministry said.
In a May 17 interview with Armenian Public Television, the secretary of Armenian Security Council Armen Grigoryan said Azerbaijani troops must return to their original positions.
“An agreement had been reached after the weekend talks that Azerbaijani troops would pull back to their original positions but it has not been implemented in full. For us, the principled position is that Azerbaijani troops must return to their original positions,” Grigoryan said.
“The worst scenario is being considered too, but we hope for a diplomatic solutions. If we fail, we will have to make other decisions,” Grigoryan added. -0-