Russia says it is working with Armenia, Azerbaijan to stabilize region

Russia is working with Armenia and Azerbaijan in the direction of stabilizing the situation in the South Caucasus, the Russian foreign ministry’s official representative Maria Zakharova said on June 19.

Zakharova was asked by a reporter at a press briefing during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Russia’s actions in the event of Azerbaijan exploiting the Israeli-Iranian conflict to attack Armenia’s southern Syunik province.

“The relevant mechanisms, working groups and experts are in place dealing with these issues on respective levels. That’s why I don’t even want to think about it or discuss this issue. Both Azerbaijan and Armenia are dear to us as countries and peoples, with whom we have centuries-old relations and close ties. Iran is also a partner country for us with whom we have been developing our relationship. This region, if we look at it in a broad sense, has seen and experienced a lot,” Zakharova said, adding that Moscow’s priority is to establish regional stability, strengthen it economically and show its benefits and the significance of cooperation.

On June 18, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said reports about threats to Armenia amid the Iranian-Israeli conflict are unsubstantiated. He warned that such reports seek to generate panic.