YEREVAN. – Defense Minister of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan on Thursday received Ambassador Günther Bächler, Special Representative for the South Caucasus of the Austrian Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

First, the defense minister expressed Armenia’s support to the Austrian Chairmanship’s priorities toward the settlement of conflicts, reduction of  tensions, and restoration of the climate of mutual trust, the Ministry of Defense (MOD) informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

And reflecting on the complicated situation regarding the fate of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, Sargsyan appreciated the role of this office—and of this organization, in general—in Armenia. The Armenian defense minister deemed impermissible Azerbaijan’s “initiatives” and policy of blackmail toward suspending the activities of this office and discrediting the OSCE.

Bächler, for his part, reaffirmed the need for intensifying the OSCE efforts to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and reduce the respective tension. Also, he expressed the hope that the current situation regarding the OSCE Office in Yerevan will be resolved in accordance with the interests of the OSCE and Armenia, alike.

In addition, the interlocutors exchanged views on the mechanisms for cooperation during the forthcoming parliamentary election in Armenia.