YEREVAN. – There are many issues in Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)]. Nagorno-Karabakh has problems in connection with refugees, villages, the military, and peacekeeping forces; we were discussing these issues with the President of Artsakh. Hovhannes Igityan, a member of the majority My Step faction, stated this Tuesday after their meeting with Artsakh President Arayik Haroutyunyan, in the National Assembly of Armenia.

He noted that many from among them had raised the issue of the exchange of POWs and of the bodies of dead. "This issue must be raised before all international organizations—also, through our parliamentary diplomacy. I have raised the issue that the parents [of the missing soldiers] should have that information. (…). Although this issue is institutionally impossible for Artsakh to carry out that process because there are places there that are impossible; but at least there should be the approach of the state. (…). There are urgent issues which, sadly, are beyond the capabilities of Artsakh officials and us," Igityan added in particular.

On November 9, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement on a complete cessation of hostilities— which Azerbaijan had launched on September 27—in and around Artsakh. Accordingly, Russian peacekeepers are deployed in the region to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities. But this statement also stipulates the handover of part of Artsakh lands to Azerbaijan.