Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has urged Turkey and Armenia to normalize ties since the Nagorno-Karabakh war has ended, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Friday. 

“The parties saw the process of resolving the Nagorno Karabakh issue differently,” Lavrov said. “But now, when the war in Nagorno-Karabakh is over, there are grounds for unblocking the political process, transport, and economic ties, it would be logical if Armenia and Turkey resumed efforts to normalize relations.” 

He went on to add that Russia would support such a process. He made the remarks at the New Knowledge Forum in Moscow. 

The remarks came a day after Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia had long supported Turkey and Armenia normalizing ties. 

“Along with the normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations in the context of the implementation of the statements signed by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia on Nov. 9, 2020, and Jan. 11 this year, this [Turkey-Armenian normalization] would work for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region,” she said. 

On Aug. 27, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Turkey was sending “positive signals” to Yerevan and that he was prepared to respond in kind. 

“We will evaluate these gestures and respond to positive signals with positive signals,” the Armenian premier said at a cabinet meeting. 

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a brief but violent war over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh, with the latter capturing large swathes of the region from the former. Turkey is a close ally of Azerbaijan.