Armenian Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan on Monday received a delegation led Toivo Klaar, the European Union (EU) Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.

The Minister of Defense briefed the guests on the situation in the region as a result of the recent war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), and the implementation of the provisions of the joint statement on November 9, 2020, regarding the ceasefire.

In this connection, Harutyunyan stressed that Azerbaijan does not comply with the provisions of the aforesaid statement’s point on the return of POWs and other detainees, and uses this process for political purposes to exert additional pressure on Armenia.

In his turn, Klaar noted that the EU supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and is ready to contribute to the intensification of negotiations within this format.

During the meeting, the parties touched upon regional security issues, too.