News - Russia MFA spox comments on Azerbaijan leader not going to Granada summit

Each country has a sovereign right to determine its position and policy. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian foreign ministry, Maria Zakharova, commenting on the information about Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev deciding not to attend the upcoming summit in Granada, Spain where his meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was supposed to take place. "As far as I understand, this is a meeting in which we [i.e. Russia] did not participate. So, in this case I do not consider it necessary to comment on the decision of the parties. What is more, Baku comments on all its moves on a regular basis. I believe it is worth asking such questions to the Azerbaijani side, or waiting for its comments," Zakharova noted. Earlier, the Azerbaijani media reported that Aliyev decided not to go to Granada, Spain where he was supposed to meet with Nikol Pashinyan—and with the participation of the leaders of the EU, France, and Germany. The reason for not going is "the destructive position of France, as well as the disagreement of Paris and Berlin regarding the Turkish president’s participation in the meeting. Under such conditions, Azerbaijan has refused to negotiate." Earlier, Turkish media reported that Turkish president Erdogan will not go to Granada because of a cold.