Artsakh interested in having functioning borders and friendly relations with Iran

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. The Republic of Artsakh appreciates Iran’s balanced and mostly neutral policy on the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict, Artsakh foreign minister Masis Mayilyan said in an interview with an Iranian reporter which has been published in the Iranian Shargh daily, as well as in several Iranian news agencies, Armenpress reports.

“Artsakh is one of our neighbors with which we have about 135km long common border. Perhaps many Iranians are unaware that we have such a neighbor since it is invisible on the map. In general, I would like to know your policy regarding Iran”, the Iranian reporter asked.

Minister Mayilyan said the Artsakh Republic is interested in having functioning borders and friendly relations with all neighbor countries, including Iran. “It’s important to state that in the first half of 1992 Iran acted as a mediator in the conflict settlement which speaks about the fact that Iran is interested in ensuring peace in the region. Another evidence of this is that today official Tehran expresses readiness to again conduct a mediation mission in the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement process. It’s worth mentioning that Iran is the only country in the region that has common border with all the three conflicting sides – the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Artsakh and Azerbaijan.

Artsakh borders three states: Armenia in the west, Azerbaijan in the east and Iran in the south. The borders with Armenia are open, moreover, the only way to connect with the outside world is provided via Armenia. The border with Azerbaijan can be more likely called a battlefield. Despite our two peoples’ friendly attitude towards each other, the border between Artsakh and Iran remains closed which is abnormal”, the Artsakh FM said, expressing confidence that it is also in the interests of Iran to maintain the common border. “I think this is also in accordance with the interests of other concerned actors in the region”.

The interview also touched upon the 2016 April war. Asked whether Russia changed its policy during the April war for the benefit of Baku, the Artsakh minister said: “I don’t think that the Russian policy has changed. Russia, the United States and France are OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries and have agreed approaches on ensuring peace in the region.

As for the April war, I want to state that Russia during those days played more active role on ceasing the military operations by the consent of the remaining two Co-Chair countries which is linked with the fact that among the three Co-Chair countries only Russia has the respective set of tools to have an influence on the sides during the military operations. That’s why, it’s not accidental that on April 5 by Russia’s mediation the sides reached an oral agreement to cease the military operations and restore the ceasefire regime established by the May 12, 1992 agreement”, he said.

The reporter asked whether the foreign minister affirms the participation of Turkish forces in the April war as there are reports proving also this. Masis Mayilyan said in response that it’s a fact that Turkey is Azerbaijan’s ally and they closely cooperate in military and military-technical fields. “It’s also not a secret that numerous Turkish military advisors serve in the Azerbaijani army long ago, and the Azerbaijani officers staff undergoes training mainly in Turkey. Thus, it’s not ruled out that Turkey played a certain role during the April war”, the Artsakh FM said.