Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan agreed on October 8 that Moscow will withdraw its troops from the Armenia-Iran border by January 1 next year. Under the agreement, Armenian border guards will take over all operations from Russian forces at the checkpoint on the border with the Middle Eastern country.
The announcement was made by Nazeli Baghdasaryan, spokeswoman for the Armenian Prime Minister, summarizing the meeting between Putin and Pashinyan on the sidelines of the CIS Summit in Moscow, where the two sides also discussed similar agreements regarding Russian border guards on the Armenian-Turkish border.
For decades, Armenia's borders with Türkiye and Iran were guarded only by Russian forces.
In a meeting in May, Mr. Pashinyan and Mr. Putin made a similar decision to withdraw Russian border guards from Zvartnots Airport in the Armenian capital, Yerevan. The withdrawal from Zvartnots was completed on July 31, with Armenian National Security Service forces taking over.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan hold talks on the sidelines of the CIS Summit in Moscow, October 8, 2024. Photo: Kremlin.ru
These developments signal a shift in Armenia’s security arrangements as Yerevan increasingly distances itself from Moscow – its long-time traditional ally. Armenian authorities are unhappy with the role of Russian peacekeepers in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Yerevan has criticized Moscow for failing to stop Azerbaijan’s lightning offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh last September, which eventually led to Azerbaijan regaining control of the region after nearly three decades of Armenian rule.
Following Azerbaijan's military success, the Armenian separatist administration in Nagorno-Karabakh dissolved, leading to further discussions between Yerevan and Baku aimed at establishing a lasting peace.
Before meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS or CIS) Summit, Russian President Putin also had a private meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Kremlin spokesman Demitry Peskov said Mr Putin discussed the "Zangezur Corridor" in separate meetings with Mr Pashinyan and Mr Aliyev.
"Putin spoke to each of them individually. Moreover, the Russian president probably sat with each of them for half an hour, so there was definitely an exchange of views. The topic of the Zangezur Corridor was also mentioned," Peskov told reporters on October 8, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
This issue was not reported by Yerevan and Baku in the summaries of the meeting between their leaders and the Russian President.
Mr Putin is said to have renewed his invitation to Mr Pashinyan to attend the BRICS summit later this month in Kazan, Russia. BRICS is a grouping that originally included Russia, Brazil, India, China and South Africa. Mr Pashinyan’s office signaled last month that the Armenian prime minister would attend the summit.
The Russian president said he is expected to have another bilateral meeting with the Armenian prime minister on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.
Minh Duc (According to RFE/RL, Asberez)
Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/nga-president-and-armenia-prime-minister-have-agreed-to-agree-on-a-mot-viec-204241009150249836.htm
Comment (0)