May 24, 2021 - 19:03 AMT
Russia says "always ready" to lend a hand to "fraternal Armenian people"

Moscow is always ready to lend a hand to the "fraternal Armenian people", Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the Argumenty i Fakty (Arguments and Facts).

Lavrov said the agreements reached between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on Nagorno-Karabakh are being successfully implemented, adding that Russia's assistance is highly appreciated by Armenia.

"We can say that the trilateral agreements of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia in their statements from November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, are generally being successfully implemented. This concerns, in particular, the elimination of the humanitarian and socio-economic consequences of the conflict, the unblocking of transport and economic communications in the South Caucasus. Russian assistance is highly appreciated by Armenian friends," the Russian foreign policy chief said.

According to Lavrov, the Armenian-Russian relations are not limited to Karabakh. The countries have established an "unprecedentedly active and trusting" political dialogue at the highest and other levels, he added.

Lavrov deminded that this year alone, the leaders of Russia and Armenia met twice and held a number of telephone conversations. In early May, Lavrov himself paid a visit to Yerevan. Exchanges are also taking place at the level of the parliaments of the two countries.

"Our country is always ready to lend a hand to the fraternal Armenian people," the minister stressed.