YEREVAN. – French Ambassador to Armenia said it's time to turn South Caucasus into a region of peace, prosperity and stability, but first of all peace.

The use of force or threat of force is out of the question and is unacceptable, Henri Reynaud said during the lecture on the 10th Anniversary of EU Enlargement.

Speaking about the recent statements by Azerbaijani side and absence of the president and foreign minister during the visit of Minsk Group Co-Chairs to Baku, Reynaud said it is not he who must comment on the regional visit of the Minsk Group.

“I just want to refer to the statement of Co-Chairs on the twentieth anniversary of the ceasefire agreement that noted importance of creating confidence-building measures in order to find peaceful solution to Karabakh issue based on three equal principles known as Madrid Principles” he said. 

The diplomat emphasized that unfortunately the agreement signed 20 years ago did not lead to settlement, and the conflict exists.

“I think France, as a co-chairing state of the OSCE Minsk Group, will do everything to continue its mission, that is to work and find possible options that could lead to finding of a mutually acceptable solution to Karabakh conflict. The leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan is well aware of France's readiness,” he said.
 
Ambassador Reynaud noted that the readiness will be displayed within OSCE Minsk Group and, naturally, through assistance of responsible bodies in EU.