YEREVAN. – The non-resolution of the Karabakh issue remains one of the main challenges in the region. Minister of Foreign Affairs Ara Aivazian stated this at Tuesday’s meeting of the Standing Committee on Regional and Eurasian Integration of the National Assembly of Armenia.

According to him, the consequences of Azerbaijan's recent use of force against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)—and  with the direct support and participation of Turkey, and its occupation of a part of Artsakh territory cannot be considered a solution to this conflict. "Only the political negotiation process, which will take into account the rights of all parties to the conflict and determine the final status of Karabakh, can be considered possible as an end to this conflict," Aivazian stressed.

The FM also noted that the Armenian side is ready to resume the negotiation process, but for that, it is necessary to create an appropriate atmosphere that will promote peace, whereas such preconditions are not visible from the Azerbaijani side yet. "Evidence of this is the non-fulfillment by Azerbaijan of the humanitarian component of the trilateral statement of November 9 last year, which is manifested in creating obstacles in the matter of the repatriation of prisoners of war," the Armenian FM added.