Zakharova comments on Macron’s announcement of taking a new initiative on the Artsakh issue

Russia welcomes any initiatives that do not contradict its efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, that do not repeat or undermine them, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said on August 30.

“On the other hand, we are well aware of France’s activity in this direction. Within the framework of such mediation efforts, it is necessary to take into account the position of both sides of the conflict, Armenia and Azerbaijan. And, without taking this into account, there is no need to hope for progress in the already quite tense situation,” Maria Zakharova said.

According to her, it is the be-all and end-all of any mediation. To remind, the President of France announced earlier that he was going to hold talks with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan this week and come up with a new diplomatic initiative regarding the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The day before, on August 29, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the President of France had a telephone conversation. On the initiative of Emmanuel Macron, a telephone conversation was also held with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. According to the report, they discussed the situation in the region, as well as the opening of the Lachin Corridor and the Aghdam-Stepanakert road.