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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow and Baku are moving towards fully realizing the potential of the Declaration on Allied Cooperation signed in February 2022, as he opened talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov in Moscow. Lavrov also reiterated Russia's readiness to help establish transport and economic links between Baku and Yerevan, underscoring Moscow's role in regional normalization efforts.

Coverage Comparison

The statements were reported by TASS, the Russian state news agency, which quoted Lavrov at a press conference following the talks with Bayramov. The agency's coverage focused on the positive trajectory of Russian-Azerbaijani relations and Moscow's continued engagement in the South Caucasus.

Key Claims

  • Lavrov said Moscow and Baku are "moving towards fully realizing the potential" of the Declaration on Allied Cooperation, which was signed on February 22, 2022. He noted that regular contacts at various levels, including between presidents, governments, ministries, and parliaments, are reinforcing the dialogue.
  • Russia is ready to facilitate the establishment of transport and economic links between Baku and Yerevan, as well as the resolution of humanitarian issues, according to Lavrov. He said Russia consistently supports the efforts of Azerbaijan and Armenia towards the full and comprehensive normalization of relations based on trilateral agreements reached in 2020 and 2022.
  • Lavrov stated that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had noted that "Russian-Azerbaijani relations have been fully normalized, with past difficulties left behind," and that both sides acknowledged a mutual understanding of this reality.
  • Bilateral trade between Russia and Azerbaijan reached nearly $5 billion last year, Lavrov said, and Russian investments in Azerbaijan amount to almost $11 billion.
  • The foreign ministers also discussed resuming full-scale cooperation in cultural, humanitarian, and educational areas, as well as pressing regional and international issues.
During the talks, Lavrov acknowledged that occasional difficulties are inevitable, but emphasized that the overall trajectory is towards fully realizing the potential of the Moscow Declaration. He also pointed to the symbolic date of the signing: 2-22-22.