This Is Not a Question of the Future, It Is a Question Being Addressed Now: Zakharova on the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan

During a press briefing in Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry representative Maria Zakharova commented on the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Bratislava within the framework of the OSCE Ministerial Council, after which the parties issued opposing statements.

“I would not say that we have somehow cemented the incomparability or inability of the parties to enter into further dialogue. It seems to me that the parties did not talk about that. It is evident that their positions are different; otherwise, there would be no negotiation process. On our part, as a country that performs international mediation functions, we will do everything possible to promote the continuation of dialogue to resolve the already protracted and long-standing conflict,” said Zakharova.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry also added that Russia will do everything to ensure that dialogue between the parties continues in a constructive manner and that they reach mutually acceptable solutions.

Maria Zakharova also responded to a journalist's question regarding whether, considering the opposing positions and the mentioned red lines, the mediators have a desire to guide the parties towards smaller, more targeted steps. “This is not a question of the future; it is a question being addressed now. The fact is that despite the differences in positions and the stated red lines, there are examples of dialogue and cooperation in areas where understanding has been achieved. Specifically, we are talking about the exchange of groups of journalists, which is a wonderful example,” she answered.