Armenia is ready to collaborate with Azerbaijan in the search for missing persons and finding out their fates, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at Thursday’s press briefing.

Stressing that the matter is at the center of attention of the Armenian authorities, Pashinyan assured that the Armenian side is ready to work together with Azerbaijan in this regard.

“It is another matter that some circles in Azerbaijan are using this matter for political purposes and generating hatred. Our approach is different,” added Pashinyan, recalling that at the moment the Armenian side has about 1,000 missing persons.

Referring to the increase in Armenia’s defense budget, the premier noted that this is necessary to ensure the normal development of the country’s army.

Reaffirming the readiness to collaborate with Azerbaijan, Pashinyan noted that the commissions of the two countries can work more closely, but there is another problem: the lack of information.

"Some Azerbaijani circles are trying to create the impression that we [i.e. Armenia] are aware, but do not want to disclose [it]. We can say the same. The right way is to collaborate, resolve the matter, and close this page," the Armenian prime minister concluded.