01:27Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that 'it is impossible to ignore' Russia’s interests in the South Caucasus while commenting on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's words about the need to compensate for the country's 'failed' alliances in security issues.
"From the historic, geographical and geopolitical perspectives, it's impossible to 'lose' Russia, meaning that it is impossible to ignore its interests in the South Caucasus. But such hopes are nurtured by some leaders in Yerevan. They talk about it directly. A similar idea slipped into the recent speech of Prime Minister Pashinyan, who spoke of the need to compensate for the 'failed' alliances on which Armenia relied to ensure its security and to expand the circle of partners who will ensure this security," Lavrov stated.
The minister also reminded the Armenian leadership how the United States 'dealt with those whom it has sought to take under its wing, promoting its geopolitical interests'.
On September 13, Pashinyan said that 'Russian peacekeepers have failed their mission' in Nagorno-Karabakh and that Yerevan was working with Western partners to gain the most support, during an interview with POLITICO Europe.
"On the other hand, I cannot say that if the Russian peacekeepers had not been in Nagorno Karabakh, the situation in Nagorno Karabakh now would have been better," he added.
The year-long conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated on Tuesday, September 19, with the beginning of Azerbaijan's counter-terrorist operation in the region. On the same day, Moscow called on both parties of the conflict to declare a ceasefire and start negotiations.
Azerbaijan accused Armenia of a 'systematic shelling of its army positions' and announced 'anti-terrorist measures of a local nature' in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that the only way to achieve peace in the region was the 'unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and dissolution of the so-called regime'.
For his part, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claimed that there were no Armenian Armed Forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Armenian Foreign Ministry called the events a 'large-scale aggression'.
On Wednesday, the Defence Ministry of the self-proclaimed NKR said its authorities had decided to lay down arms for a ceasefire from 13:00 local time (09:00 GMT). Baku also announced the suspension of its 'anti-terrorist measures'.
Nagorno-Karabakh - formerly an autonomous region of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic, with a predominantly ethnic Armenian population - broke away from Azerbaijan in the final years of the USSR, establishing a self-proclaimed, independent but internationally unrecognised entity.
Baku claims sovereignty over the territory, and after a major war in 2020 regained control over large parts of the region. In May 2023, the Yerevan government recognised Azerbaijan’s claim to the territory but also called for protection for the region's ethnic Armenians.
Impossible to ignore Russia's interests in South Caucasus - Russian FM Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that 'it is impossible to ignore' Russia’s interests in the South Caucasus while commenting on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's words about the need to compensate for the country's 'failed' alliances in security issues.
"From the historic, geographical and geopolitical perspectives, it's impossible to 'lose' Russia, meaning that it is impossible to ignore its interests in the South Caucasus. But such hopes are nurtured by some leaders in Yerevan. They talk about it directly. A similar idea slipped into the recent speech of Prime Minister Pashinyan, who spoke of the need to compensate for the 'failed' alliances on which Armenia relied to ensure its security and to expand the circle of partners who will ensure this security," Lavrov stated.
The minister also reminded the Armenian leadership how the United States 'dealt with those whom it has sought to take under its wing, promoting its geopolitical interests'.
On September 13, Pashinyan said that 'Russian peacekeepers have failed their mission' in Nagorno-Karabakh and that Yerevan was working with Western partners to gain the most support, during an interview with POLITICO Europe.
"On the other hand, I cannot say that if the Russian peacekeepers had not been in Nagorno Karabakh, the situation in Nagorno Karabakh now would have been better," he added.
The year-long conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated on Tuesday, September 19, with the beginning of Azerbaijan's counter-terrorist operation in the region. On the same day, Moscow called on both parties of the conflict to declare a ceasefire and start negotiations.
Azerbaijan accused Armenia of a 'systematic shelling of its army positions' and announced 'anti-terrorist measures of a local nature' in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that the only way to achieve peace in the region was the 'unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and dissolution of the so-called regime'.
For his part, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claimed that there were no Armenian Armed Forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Armenian Foreign Ministry called the events a 'large-scale aggression'.
On Wednesday, the Defence Ministry of the self-proclaimed NKR said its authorities had decided to lay down arms for a ceasefire from 13:00 local time (09:00 GMT). Baku also announced the suspension of its 'anti-terrorist measures'.
Nagorno-Karabakh - formerly an autonomous region of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic, with a predominantly ethnic Armenian population - broke away from Azerbaijan in the final years of the USSR, establishing a self-proclaimed, independent but internationally unrecognised entity.
Baku claims sovereignty over the territory, and after a major war in 2020 regained control over large parts of the region. In May 2023, the Yerevan government recognised Azerbaijan’s claim to the territory but also called for protection for the region's ethnic Armenians.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that 'it is impossible to ignore' Russia’s interests in the South Caucasus while commenting on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's words about the need to compensate for the country's 'failed' alliances in security issues.
"From the historic, geographical and geopolitical perspectives, it's impossible to 'lose' Russia, meaning that it is impossible to ignore its interests in the South Caucasus. But such hopes are nurtured by some leaders in Yerevan. They talk about it directly. A similar idea slipped into the recent speech of Prime Minister Pashinyan, who spoke of the need to compensate for the 'failed' alliances on which Armenia relied to ensure its security and to expand the circle of partners who will ensure this security," Lavrov stated.
The minister also reminded the Armenian leadership how the United States 'dealt with those whom it has sought to take under its wing, promoting its geopolitical interests'.
On September 13, Pashinyan said that 'Russian peacekeepers have failed their mission' in Nagorno-Karabakh and that Yerevan was working with Western partners to gain the most support, during an interview with POLITICO Europe.
"On the other hand, I cannot say that if the Russian peacekeepers had not been in Nagorno Karabakh, the situation in Nagorno Karabakh now would have been better," he added.
The year-long conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated on Tuesday, September 19, with the beginning of Azerbaijan's counter-terrorist operation in the region. On the same day, Moscow called on both parties of the conflict to declare a ceasefire and start negotiations.
Azerbaijan accused Armenia of a 'systematic shelling of its army positions' and announced 'anti-terrorist measures of a local nature' in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that the only way to achieve peace in the region was the 'unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and dissolution of the so-called regime'.
For his part, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claimed that there were no Armenian Armed Forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Armenian Foreign Ministry called the events a 'large-scale aggression'.
On Wednesday, the Defence Ministry of the self-proclaimed NKR said its authorities had decided to lay down arms for a ceasefire from 13:00 local time (09:00 GMT). Baku also announced the suspension of its 'anti-terrorist measures'.
Nagorno-Karabakh - formerly an autonomous region of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic, with a predominantly ethnic Armenian population - broke away from Azerbaijan in the final years of the USSR, establishing a self-proclaimed, independent but internationally unrecognised entity.
Baku claims sovereignty over the territory, and after a major war in 2020 regained control over large parts of the region. In May 2023, the Yerevan government recognised Azerbaijan’s claim to the territory but also called for protection for the region's ethnic Armenians.