“We remain loyal to the acquisition of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and are trying to create grounds for the two countries to live in peace, not war.”

French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Pascal Meunier stated the aforesaid, reported APA news agency of Azerbaijan.

The ambassador also said he knows the new OSCE Minsk Group French Co-Chair Pierre Andrieux very well.

“We met 20 years ago. He was my deputy while I was working as a diplomat in China. He has then worked in Moscow and as an ambassador in Tajikistan and Moldova afterwards. Therefore, he knows the former Soviet Union countries very well,” the diplomat stated.

According to the ambassador, serving French Co-Chair Jacques Faure will remain in this position till mid-June, and until then Andrieux will be accompanying him in the visits.

Meunier added that, after a twenty-year ceasefire, concrete steps should be taken to peacefully settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“Because the peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia will have a positive effect on stability and tranquility in the region. [French] President François Hollande has said he’s ready to receive the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia together with the co-chairs in France. And the presidents just need to accept this proposal. Hollande has made concrete proposal to the sides to achieve peace, and [the] presidents may discuss these proposals in France,” the French diplomat concluded.