Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said normalization between Azerbaijan and Armenia is already improving conditions in the South Caucasus.
He called the reopening of regional transportation links important for further progress but said new logistics projects must be economically justified and capable of covering their costs.
Shoigu made the comments at the 14th annual meeting of security council secretaries from Commonwealth of Independent States countries in Moscow.
No Final Peace Treaty Has Been Signed
Shoigu said the region was showing signs of improvement and referred to what he called the actual establishment of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have not signed a final peace treaty, however. His statement therefore represents a political assessment and does not change the legal status of the negotiating process.
Transport Projects Must Be Economically Viable
Shoigu highlighted the importance of unblocking regional transportation links and referred to understandings previously discussed by a trilateral working group involving Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia.
He said each proposed logistics route should have a clear economic justification and be able to recover its costs.
Azerbaijan was represented at the Moscow meeting by Security Council Secretary Ramil Usubov. Participants discussed security threats across the CIS and possible coordinated responses.
Source: Vesti Baku.