News - Russian Foreign Ministry commented on the Yerevan - Minsk conflict

The Russian side is interested in seeing the current period of complications between Yerevan and Minsk come to an end as soon as possible, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told RIA Novosti. Asked whether Russia intends to participate in the settlement of the conflict between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, he pointed out that "unfortunately, it is difficult for us to explain the tough stance taken by the Armenian authorities towards their Belarusian partners." "Alexander Lukashenko has always emphasized Minsk's interest in a stable and secure South Caucasus. Even in the most difficult times, the initiatives of the Belarusian leader were aimed at reconciliation of the warring parties," he noted. According to the deputy foreign minister, "Minsk and Yerevan are allies, with whom we are developing multifaceted cooperation." Galuzin added that "Armenia and Belarus are members of the CIS, CSTO, and EAEU." "Moscow is interested in seeing the current period of complications between our friends come to an end as soon as possible," he emphasized. "In any case, we expect that temporary disagreements will not negatively affect the advancement of interaction within the framework of common integration associations," Galuzin added. "We urge both capitals to look beyond the horizon, to realize the importance of the moment when the contours of a new world order are being drawn out, in the construction of which we would like to see not only Minsk but also Yerevan," he concluded. Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that neither he nor any other Armenian official will visit Belarus while Alexander Lukashenko is president there, and that the Belarusian leader should apologize. According to him, the Belarusian president claimed that he participated in the preparation of the escalation of the conflict in Karabakh, "supported, believed, wished for Azerbaijan's victory."