UN Sec-Gen hails Russia`s role in Armenia-Azerbaijan continuing  contacts - spokesperson

ArmInfo. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the trilateral summit meeting of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Farhan Haq, Guterres'  deputy spokesman, said on Saturday, TASS reports.

"The Secretary-General welcomes the 26 November trilateral meeting  between the Prime Minister of Armenia [Nikol Pashinyan], the  President of Azerbaijan [Ilham Aliyev], and the President of the  Russian Federation [Vladimir Putin], and takes note of their joint  statement. He notes with appreciation the role of the Russian  Federation in facilitating continuing contacts and dialogue," Haq  said in a statement.

According to the spokesperson, Guterres "is encouraged by the  resumption of direct engagement at the highest level between Armenia  and Azerbaijan and their recommitment to fully implement the  trilateral statements of 9 November 2020 and 11 January 2021 and to  take concrete steps aimed at increasing stability in the region."

"He reiterates the UN's principled position thatъa lasting peace can  only be achieved through dialogue and urges the parties to resolve  outstanding issues to that end through all available formats,  including under the auspices of the OSCE's Minsk Group Co-Chairs  (Russia, the United States and France - TASS)," he said.

"The United Nations stands ready to support all such efforts,  including through the provision of humanitarian, recovery and  peacebuilding assistance on the ground," Haq added.

On Friday, Putin, Aliyev and Pashinyan held trilateral talks in the  Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, which lasted nearly three hours  and yielded a joint statement. In addition, the Russian president  held bilateral meetings with the Azerbaijani president and also with  the Armenian prime minister.