Maria Zakharova, the Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Russia for the next tripartite summit, where it is planned to discuss the entire range of tripartite and bilateral issues.
The Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia said that Russia cannot help but worry about the alarming trends that are intensifying in South Caucasus at a time when the West is trying to pass on the conflict schemes developed in Ukraine.
"We see that fraternal Armenia is subjected to unprecedented external pressure. Steps are being taken to discredit Russia's policy in the region to undermine the centuries-old relations between our countries and peoples," Zakharova said. "Numerous foundations, NGOs, and media acting on the orders of Washington and Brussels are trying to arouse anti-Russian sentiment in society," she added.
Zakharova said that she is sure that attempts by foreign forces to fight between Moscow and Yerevan will not be successful.
US responds to Russia’s remarks
At the briefing on October 25, the United States responded to Moscow's criticism of the West's efforts to settle problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia. "We certainly reject any description of our efforts as self-promotion," State Department spokesman Ned Price said while commenting on the statement of Maria Zakharova.
He said there is no self-promotion in trying to end the years of conflict that have led to violence and deaths among Armenians and Azerbaijanis. "Our goal is to help these countries act together to achieve comprehensive, lasting peace and save lives. I do not know if that can be interpreted as self-promotion," added Ned Price. According to Price, State Secretary Antony Blinken also emphasized that the United States is committed to peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
"We have encouraged the leaders of both countries to meet in the most useful format. We believe direct dialogue is the key to solving problems and achieving lasting peace. That is why Secretary of State Blinken brought together the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in New York in September, the first time the two ministers met since the recent outbreak of violence," he stated.
Price added: "Deciding whether or not President Putin's invitation will help Armenia and Azerbaijan achieve lasting peace is ultimately a decision for these two countries to make." Ned Price pointed out that the United States strongly supports the sovereignty and independence of the South Caucasus countries. "Ultimately, there is no greater support for the independence of the South Caucasus countries than the United States. The restoration of the independence of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in 1991 is a landmark that guarantees each of these countries the right to serve their foreign political interests without dependence on Moscow or any other country," he said.
Ned Price also recalled Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia and its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, adding that Moscow has little respect for its neighbor's sovereignty, again showing that it cannot be a reliable, long-term partner.
