MOSCOW, Dec 30 (NNN-TASS) – Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, discussed developments in relation to the joint Russian-Turkish peacekeeping centre in Nagorno-Karabakh, and bilateral ties under U.S. sanctions, during his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, in Sochi yesterday.
“The centre was created as a result of an agreement reached between Russian President, Vladimir Putin and Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” the Russian Foreign Ministry cited Lavrov as saying, during a press conference, following the meeting of the Russia-Turkey Joint Strategic Planning Group in Sochi.
Lavrov further emphasised that progress in relation to the development of the centre is currently underway.
The Turkish side acknowledged that a ceasefire regime has been established in the region, and expressed hope that the joint monitoring centre will be fully set up, in the very near future.
Both sides agreed that the tense situation in Nagorno-Karabakh should not be used to deploy foreign mercenaries to the conflict, the ministry said.
“Relations between the Russian Federation and Turkey have intrinsic value and are self-sufficient. They do not depend on someone’s aggressive, unfriendly actions and do not depend on anyone’s whims,” Lavrov noted.
“Our relations acquired strategic importance long before the West began to threaten and impose its illegitimate unilateral sanctions,” the minister said.– NNN-TASS
