"We know that the Armenian authorities have declared their readiness to open regional communications based on the principle of equality, interaction, sovereignty, and jurisdiction.", Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, APA reports.
According to her, Azerbaijan has not abandoned this approach either. This topic was discussed in detail some time ago in the Trilateral Working Group co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia: "Unfortunately, this issue has come to a standstill because of the position of our Armenian colleagues".
MFA official also commented on the statement of the border guards of the Russian Federal Security Service on the control of the Mehri route: "It is very logical both from the point of view of the optimal organization of transport and from the economic point of view. Russian border guards are already present in the south of Syunik region of Armenia, they protect the border between Armenia and Iran. Regarding the "Peace Intersection" project, we do not believe that it is an alternative to Mehri or any other route. Rather, it is a broader vision of the future of regional and sub-regional communications.
Within the framework of the 22nd meeting of the Russian-Armenian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation held in Yerevan on December 15 last year, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexey Overchuk noted Russia's support and contribution to the implementation of the project.
Zakharova noted that as for non-regional actors, their reluctance to contribute to the opening of communications in the South Caucasus is explained only by the considerations of the political regime: "They are not interested in increasing the interaction of Armenia and Azerbaijan with each other and with their neighbors. and they try to present their own interests. They don't think about the interests of others. And thus, the contradictions between countries are strengthened."
