Yerevan seeks Moscow's mediation in Armenia-Turkey rapprochement

PanARMENIAN.Net - Yerevan has asked for Moscow's mediation in the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan said on Tuesday, November 23, RFE/RL Armenian Service reports.

Hunanyan said many of Armenia's partners, including Russia, have expressed willingness to act as a mediator in the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement, and the Armenian side has decided to ask the Kremlin for assistance.

“A number of international partners, including Russia, noted that they are ready to assist in the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. And we informed Russia that we are ready to start the process of Armenian-Turkish normalization without preconditions. When and if such a process starts, we will naturally provide information about it,” Hunanyan said.

Until now, according to the diplomat, there have been no direct negotiations between Ankara and Yerevan.

Hunanyan also reiterated the Armenian side's stance about a "corridor" connecting Azerbaijan to the Nakhijevan Autonomous Republic. "No such thing can happen," he said.

The Azerbaijani side has on multiple occasions spoken about a so-called "corridor" through the southern Armenian province of Syunik that would connect Nakhijevan to the rest of Azerbaijan. The Armenian side, however, has repeatedly denied being involved in negotiations for the provision of a corridor to Azerbaijan, stressing that they have only agreed to unblock transport communications in the region.