Russia welcomes the efforts for normalization of ties between Turkey and Armenia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.

Lavrov made the remarks during  a news conference in Moscow following a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, Yeni Akit newspaper reported.

Reconciliation between Ankara and Yerevan will contribute to the region's prosperity, it cited Lavrov as saying, adding that was Russia was “pleased” with recent efforts to thaw relations after decades of tension.

Turkey and Armenia last month agreed move forward with efforts to establish diplomatic relations “without conditions” and continue normalization efforts that could lead to the reopening of their shared borders.

The two countries have no diplomatic relations, a closed land border, and a deep-seated hostility stemming from the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire during World War I, which many nations recognize as genocide. 

In December, Ankara and Yerevan appointed special envoys to normalize relations, spurred by support from Russia and Azerbaijan.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 as a reaction to ethnic Armenian forces taking control of Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts.

Turkey threw its full support behind Azerbaijan in the six-weeks of clashes with Armenia over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in November of 2020. The conflict came to an end after a truce was brokered by Russia that allowed Azerbaijan to maintain swathes of Nagorno-Karabakh and deployed Russian peacekeepers to the region.