Russian President Vladimir Putin says it is too early to speak about the basic elements of the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
During a press conference in Sochi following the trilateral meeting with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Putin said that the future peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan should be a result of compromises by both sides.
“The peace treaty is not here yet, and it is too early to speak here about its basic elements, because it is a product of compromises, which should apparently be shown by both sides during a mediated effort, including with the participation of our country, if both sides want,” TASS quotes Putin as saying.
Commenting on the question that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan proposed to extend the mandate of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno Karabakh even for up to 20 years, the Russian leader said that they have discussed it, but added that a joint agreement is necessary for that.
“As far as the issue of peacekeepers is concerned, it is outlined in our joint statement dated November 2020, [issued] when the conflict was over. There is nothing to add here,” he said. “We have discussed it. But our joint agreement is necessary for that.”
In his words, the issue of extending the mandate depends on other issues, including a peace treaty and delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
“If those issues are resolved, then the issue of peacekeepers will be a different matter. If they are unsolved, or resolved partially, then the future of our peacekeeping contingent will depend on that,” the Russian leader said, adding that Armenia and Azerbaijan “conveyed their words of gratitude to Russia” for its work in Nagorno Karabakh.
