A three way meeting of presidents is scheduled for Sunday
SOCHI–Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate meeting on Saturday with is Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts at Bosharov Ruchey, the presidential residence in this port city. Among the topics discussed according to reports from all sides was the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, over which a tripartite presidential meeting is expected Sunday.
The tensions mounting in the Karabakh-Azerbaijan border were discussed by the President Serzh Sarkisian and Putin. The two also held discussions about Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union and other bi-lateral concerns, according to the presidential press service.
“Vladimir Putin met with Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian in Sochi. The leaders of the two countries discussed Armenian-Russian relations in various areas as well as ways to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” said a statement by the Kremklin Saturday.
“Our relations are developing, and they are on the rise,” said Putin during his meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who also praised Baku-Moscow relations as positive and committed to “decisively grow the collaboration potential.”
Armenian Presidential spokesperson Narek Nikoghosyan announced about the Sunday meeting of the presidents on his Facbook page.
“Azerbaijan’s Aliyev will have to explain the logic behind his country’s military adventures and racist rhetoric,” Nikoghosyan added..
Aliyev’s deputy chief of staff Novruz Mammadov confirmed the Sunday meeting on his Twitter page.
Neither president elaborated on the specifics of the discussion about Karabakh and the growing instability there.