Russia expressed readiness on Thursday to help Armenia and Turkey normalize their relations, saying that would boost peace and stability in the region, Eurasia Diary reports citing Armenian news source.
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said Moscow took note of a recent “exchange of positive signals” between Yerevan and Ankara.
Zakharova recalled in that context Russia’s stated support for the 2009 protocols on normalizing Turkish-Armenian ties.
“Now too we are ready to assist in a rapprochement between the two neighboring states based on mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests,” she told reporters.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke on August 27 of “some positive signals” sent by the Turkish government of late and said his administration is ready to reciprocate them.
Commenting on Pashinyan’s remark the following day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said regional states should establish “good-neighborly relations” by recognizing each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. “If Yerevan is ready to move in that direction Ankara could start working on a gradual normalization of relations with Armenia,” he said.