Russian peacekeepers are leaving Karabakh ahead of schedule as a result of an agreement between the leaders of Russia and Azerbaijan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev announced during a meeting with representatives of foreign think tanks.
"Both Russia and Azerbaijan clearly understood that, although the term has not expired, the peacekeepers can leave earlier. That decision only strengthened Azerbaijan-Russia relations," Aliyev said, adding that the strategic nature of bilateral relations was emphasized at the meeting with Putin yesterday.
"When signing the November 9 agreement, Armenia wanted Russian peacekeepers to stay there on a permanent basis, but we did not agree. It was a fundamental question for us. Our approach was as follows: if it was not our version, there would not have been any announcement, and the war would have continued," said Aliyev.
