We are glad that the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia is paying his first foreign visit to Moscow. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said this at a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazian.
"Of course we remember that today is the anniversary of the Spitak earthquake, and we express our condolences on that occasion. I remember how comprehensive the response to the tragedy in the USSR was. I hope that our collective preparedness for such natural disasters is at a much higher level today", Lavrov said.
He noted that the steps to get out of the hot stage of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict have just begun. Lavrov highlighted the joint statement signed by the Prime Minister of Armenia, the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia to end the war. According to him, the signing of the statement allowed refugees and internally displaced persons to return to their homes.
"The statement also provided arrangements for economic recovery, unblocking of transport communications and the resolution of humanitarian issues. In this way, we will transform the Caucasus from a region of conflict to a region of stability and prosperity for the benefit of the peoples living there. We will do our best to make progress on this issue", Lavrov said.
He said that the Russian peacekeepers cooperate with the local population in their area of responsibility, facilitate the return of refugees, assist in demining the territories, provide medical assistance to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and resolve other humanitarian issues. According to the Russian Foreign Minister, a humanitarian response center is being set up through close contacts with the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides.
"We fully support the activities of international organizations that are ready to invest their potential, resources and experience in the restoration of a peaceful life. The Russian leadership has decided to increase its contribution to the Red Cross budget", he said.
Lavrov also stated that one of the most important issues is the exchange of prisoners. "Through our peacekeepers, we will do everything possible to help resolve this issue as soon as possible. We know how sensitive this topic is for relatives, friends and acquaintances of the captives. Of course, the exchange of bodies is also important. It is also one of the emotional aspects of the problem, which must be resolved immediately", said the Russian Foreign Minister.
He said that during the meeting they will exchange ideas on how to continue the implementation of the November 9 statement. "This is also a great opportunity to discuss our bilateral allied relations, strategic partnership, as well as other, not only regional issues", Lavrov concluded.
