YEREVAN. – Longstanding settlement and sustainable peace in Karabakh is in the economic and political interests of Armenia, Switzerland’s Ambassador Lukas Gasser said during “Armenia-Switzerland Relations” media conference in Yerevan.

“Switzerland has always supported peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict. We continue offering our services which is a part of our foreign activities. In 1996 and 2014, when Switzerland chaired the OSCE, we were very intensively involved in the normalization of relations between Armenia and its neighbors,” he said.

Ambassador Gasser emphasized that the 1995 ceasefire must be respected, and the Madrid Principles could be a sustainable basis for a settlement.

“If Switzerland can contribute to this process, we will be happy to lend a helping hand,” he added.

Asked about the need to make a targeted statements, given that there are always aggressive and hostile remarks on the part of the opponent, the Ambassador said there had been no solution to the conflict yet. “We want to show support for all the parties to reach a peaceful solution. This requires extensive diplomatic activity, particularly in the framework of the OSCE. These activities are not made in public. In this respect, Switzerland is a neutral country, and we cannot publicly display any preference or a clear position on this issue.”