Taking sides in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is difficult: Russia responds to Armenia’s deputy foreign minister

Taking sides in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a complex matter, Svetlana Zhurova, First Deputy Chairperson of the State Duma’s Committee on International Affairs, told Lenta.ru.

“We are a country that wants to have normal, cooperative relations with both sides. It is very difficult to take sides. For Russia, it is very hard to decide. The conflict is a conflict. It’s rare that only one side is to blame for a conflict. We have long-standing relations with both. We used to be one country. This is a difficult situation,” Zhurova stated.

Earlier, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan announced an upcoming “final decision” regarding Armenia’s membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). He pointed out that Yerevan is not implying but directly stating that this cannot continue for much longer. Kostanyan stated that if Armenia’s partners, including Russia, do not make political statements regarding Azerbaijan’s invasion of Armenian territory, Armenia will definitively withdraw from the CSTO.