Russia calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to build ‘positive’ agenda

YEREVAN, August 4. /ARKA/. The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the escalation of tension in the area of the Lachin corridor and other sections of the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Unfortunately, there are casualties. We offer deep condolences to the families and friends of those killed, we wish the wounded a speedy recovery," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website.

It says that Russian peacekeepers are making all necessary efforts to stabilize the situation on the ground.

"Active work with both sides is being carried out through all channels and all levels, including the country's top leadership. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is in close contact with his Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts," the statement said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry urged the sides to show restraint and observe the ceasefire. "We proceed from the fact that the settlement of existing contradictions should be carried out exclusively by political and diplomatic means, taking into account the positions of the parties and in strict compliance with the provisions of the statement of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia of November 9, 2020. We are convinced that the efforts of the sides should be concentrated on forming a positive agenda in their relations within the framework of existing trilateral negotiation formats," the statement says.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday told a government session that questions arise in Armenian society over the Russian peacekeeping operation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pashinyan's criticism of the 2000-member Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh after the 2020 autumn war comes after renewed fighting provoked by Azerbaijan on August 3 that left two Armenian soldiers of Nagorno-Karabakh defense army killed and more than dozen wounded.

Pashinyan said the role of the Russian peacekeeping mission must be "clarified" and their mandate ‘specified’. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the tension in Nagorno-Karabakh with the permanent members of the Security Council via videoconference, according to the official website of the Kremlin.

Putin was said to stress the implementation of  all provisions of the trilateral statement of Nov.9, 2020.-0-