BELGRADE. – It is Azerbaijan that provokes the escalation of tension at the border, and this is linked to the ministerial meeting.  

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, on Friday noted the aforesaid at a briefing with Armenian journalists, and within the framework of the 22nd OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Ministerial Council, in the Serbian capital city of Belgrade.

Nalbandian stated this in response to the query on Azerbaijan’s infiltration attempt into Nagorno-Karabakh, on early Friday morning.

“During the talk with the [OSCE Minsk Group] Co-chairs, I told them as well that the Azerbaijani party reduces tension at the threshold of all OSCE ministerial meetings, so that it may resort to provocations later,” the Armenian FM stated. “[But] we [i.e. the Armenian party] say ‘yes’ to the calls by the Co-chairs, [and] reiterate again: Armenia affirms its readiness to go to [conflict] settlement by peace talks, just as the Co-chairs and the international community urge.

“[But] Azerbaijan gives its [own] response [to this].”