Russia is interested in quick normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, and the sooner it happens, the better it will be for the region, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a press conference on Thursday. The minister arrived in Armenia on January 13 on an official visit, and has had talks with President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister of Armenia Eduard Nalbandyan. The prospects of the development of Armenian-Russian relations, as well as the problems in the Southern Caucasus region were among the issues discussed during the talks.

Lavrov reminded that he had been present at the signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols in Zurich, Switzerland (October 10, 2009), and he noted that Russia is ready to support the process of normalizing the relations through implementing infrastructure projects, mainly in the sphere of railway communication. “We are ready to support when the sides (Armenia and Turkey) are ready,” he says.

On January 12, the Constitutional Court of Armenia ruled that the protocols are constitutional and may now be presented to the National Assembly for ratification.

Political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan, Head of Caucasus Institute in Yerevan, commenting on the statement made by Lavrov, told ArmeniaNow that “Russia is interested in the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations because in spite of the geographical isolation of Armenia from Russia, (especially after the August 2008 war with Georgia) Russia intends to demonstrate to the whole world that it is one of the main players in the Southern Caucasus region.”