Putin, Erdogan Discuss Progress of Implementation of Agreements on Karabakh

SMA News – MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, discussed the implementation of the agreements on Nagorno-Karabakh by phone, the Kremlin said in a statement on Tuesday.

The phone conversation took place at the initiative of the Turkish side, the Kremlin said.

The Turkish leader’s administration said in a statement that the presidents discussed the creation of a centre to monitor the ceasefire in the region.

Putin also briefed Erdogan about the activities of Russian peacekeepers who effectively support the ceasefire in Karabakh.

The Turkish leader added that it is “impossible to understand why other co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group criticise the peace efforts”.

Pointing to Azerbaijan’s sensitivity to the full return of its territory, Erdogan stressed that “in the process of implementing the agreement, the Armenian side should not hold back on its responsibilities”.

The presidents of Russia and Turkey declared the priority of humanitarian problems in Nagorno-Karabakh, including the return of refugees, the preservation of religious and cultural sites.

The leaders also discussed the fight against COVID-19 and bilateral relations and trade on Tuesday.