Yerevan believes the best option for stability in the region would be the strengthening of the ceasefire regime that has been in effect since 1994, with ‘control mechanisms’, which would make it possible to avoid escalation and ‘indicate’ the side responsible for ceasefire violations. This is what Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in an interview with EFE.

Mnatsakanyan added that, in spite of this, Baku always avoids this and that it would be better, if it acknowledged this. “Currently, the primary aim is to weaken tension. This is the most important thing,” he stated and slammed Azerbaijan’s position according to which it seems as though Azerbaijan is doing Armenia a ‘favor’ by not restarting military operations and that this is why Armenia needs to make concessions during the talks.

“Armenia has rejected this position. We will not negotiate under any precondition or threat,” Mnatsakanyan said, adding that the restart of peaceful negotiations is not only ‘possible’, but also ‘necessary’. “There is no alternative to a peaceful settlement. We are fully ready to continue the peaceful negotiations as soon as possible,” he said.

When told that Pashinyan has been claiming that there has to be ‘a solution that will be acceptable for Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan and their peoples ever since he came to power, Mnatsakanyan said there can’t be an option for a solution that will be provided at the expense of Armenia or Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to him, in regard to this, there are two priorities for Armenia, including recognition of the right of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination ‘without limitations’ and security agreements that will prevent the restart of military operations. Mnatskanyan also supportd the participation of the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh in the peace process since the authorities have received the mandate from the people to negotiate.