The Russian Federation and Azerbaijan have agreed on the dates of the next round of negotiations on the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh. In an interview with the newspaper on this subject “News” said Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Evdokimov.
“The dates of the next round of negotiations between Moscow and Baku on our peacekeeping contingent are currently being agreed with the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry,” he said, noting that the stay of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh ends in 2025.
As the diplomat said, the role of the Russian peacekeeping contingent has changed after Azerbaijan regained control over the entire territory of this region. He stated that after the completion of the anti-terrorism operation, Russian peacekeepers patrolled the regions together with Azerbaijani forces and protected buildings and cultural structures.
Before that, Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Galuzin statedAfter the Armenian leadership agreed to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as belonging to Azerbaijan, Russia is evaluating all issues related to the presence of peacekeepers in the region together with the Azerbaijani side.
On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijani authorities announced the start of the anti-terrorism operation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Baku announced the purpose of the operation as “suppression of large-scale provocations”, disarmament and withdrawal of Armenian army units from the territory of the region. A day later, a ceasefire agreement was reached between the parties with the mediation of Russian peacekeepers. Peace talks have been continuing since then.
Previously in Armenia taken into account The issue of the status of Karabakh is closed.