Armenia has an interest in prolongation of the Russian peacekeeping mission until the Nagorno-Karabakh status is finally settled, the Armenian Security Council told TASS on Friday.
"Regrettably, now the situation is not stable enough in terms of security. Recently, we witnessed ceasefire violations, which resulted in the death of an Armenian civilian, and we also have wounded people. Consequently, the factor of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh will be crucial and paramount until the solution to Nagorno-Karabakh status is found," the Armenian Security Council noted.
The Security Council pointed out that "the Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh is an important factor safeguarding security of Armenians, who are the citizens of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as a guarantor of security of infrastructure, which is being created, and of unimpeded and continuous movement of people and cargoes."
"Under the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, the term of the Russian peacekeeping contingent’s deployment is automatically extended for another five years unless one of the parties takes other steps six months prior to the end of the term. Armenia plans to maintain the situation that has been shaped in accordance with this provision of the trilateral statement until the Nagorno-Karabakh status is settled," the Security Council added.
Yerevan is in talks with Moscow on entire range of Karabakh issue
In addition, the Armenian Security Council said that Yerevan was holding talks with Russia on the entire range of issues related to Nagorno-Karabakh, including the prolongation of peacekeepers’ mission there.
"Armenia is constantly in talks on a whole range of issues related to Nagorno-Karabakh with its strategic ally - Russia," the Security Council said when asked if negotiations were being held with Moscow and Baku about the prolongation of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh.
