Yerevan /Mediamax/. Moscow believes that “the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship format should continue to play the leading role in overcoming the consequences of the crisis, searching for ways of a firm, long-term settlement of the conflict in a political and diplomatic way.”

“The basic principles of the settlement, drafted by the three co-chairs, are the basis of the 9 November 2020 Statement by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia,” Russian Deputy FM Andrey Rudenko said in the interview to Mosco-Baku agency, published on the Russian MFA’s website.

The diplomat has noted that “Azerbaijan and Armenia are in the very beginning of the difficult road toward establishing the necessary level of mutual trust, normalizing bilateral relations.”

“Unblocking of the economic and transport communications is beneficial to all parties. South Caucasus has suffered for a long time - and still suffers - from mutual blockades and the inability to establish normal cooperation. There are signs today that we are heading in the right direction. Transport corridors and economic communications should open and develop in all vectors, “tying” the countries of the region into a single regional network.

In this regard, we assess positively the first results of the work of Trilateral Working Group co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. In the framework of this mechanism, we consider and analyze all possible transportation routes. This is a very difficult and complex process involving representatives of a number of state bodies from three countries. It is important to come to decisions that will allow removing obstacles to free movement of goods and people through Azerbaijan and Armenia, while maintaining a balance of interests and gradually strengthening mutual trust,” said Rudenko.