The Russian Foreign Ministry published a message about the Pashinyan-Leyen-Blinken meeting, noting that Moscow views it as a destructive attempt to involve the South Caucasus in a geopolitical confrontation.
The Foreign Ministry of Russia accused the West of trying to drive a wedge between the countries of the region, claiming this could negatively affect the stability, security and economic development of the South Caucasus, create new dividing lines, and lead to an uncontrolled increase in tension.
According to the statement of the Foreign Ministry, Washington and Brussels want Armenia to leave the CSTO and EAEU, and the Russian military base and border guards to be removed from the territory of Armenia. The Russian diplomatic service called on Yerevan not to allow the West to lead Armenia astray.
“It is fraught with the risks of a security vacuum, serious economic problems and population outflow. The volumes of Brussels grant support cannot be compared with the multi-billion benefits that Armenia continues to receive from cooperation with Moscow, the EAEU and the CIS,” the message reads.
The Russian side has expressed readiness to deepen and expand relations with Armenia.
“It will contribute to the fundamental interests of both peoples, strengthening of regional security and stability,” the agency said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also accused the West of undermining the foundations of the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement. According to the department, that basis is the trilateral statements of the heads of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“Moscow is ready to support the long-awaited peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia in every possible way,” the Russian side noted.
The department is convinced that the problems in the South Caucasus, as well as in the regional bilateral relations, should be solved in accordance with the principle of “regional responsibility”, which was agreed upon during the second meeting of the ‘3+3’ consultative platform in Tehran.
“We call on the authorities of Armenia to take into account the concerns of neighboring states when building their foreign policy,” the Russian Foreign Ministry concluded.
