Armenia expects a constructive position from Azerbaijan to achieve tangible results. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said this Friday after his meeting in Yerevan with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau.
"A meaningful discussion took place in the format of a private and an expanded meeting. Reference was made to the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)] conflict. I presented to my colleague the details of the situation created in the area of [Artsakh’s] Parukh village as a result of the invasion of the Azerbaijani forces. We discussed issues related to the situation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. We also discussed a wide range of issues of regional peace and stability, the priorities and prospects of the Polish chairmanship in the OSCE. I also presented to my colleague the development of the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey without preconditions," Mirzoyan said.
The Armenian FM stated that the current Polish chairmanship in the OSCE coincided with the most serious security crisis in Europe: the hostilities in Ukraine.
"It is clear that at the moment it is focusing most of the OSCE's attention. But we expect that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains on the OSCE agenda. This is especially important these days when Azerbaijan uses geopolitical processes to pursue a policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh," Mirzoyan said, in particular.
He noted that a clear response from the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the international community is becoming a requirement of the situation, and the unimpeded entry of humanitarian organizations into Nagorno-Karabakh is imperative to prevent a humanitarian crisis.
The Armenian FM noted with satisfaction that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries gave a clear assessment of the recent escalation, noting that it was the result of the advance of the Azerbaijani troops.
"Armenia has been in favor of a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at all stages; and now, too. As it is known, Azerbaijan has presented some proposals to the Armenian side. We considered them acceptable, at the same time noting that they are incomplete, and we have supplemented them with our proposals, adding that the issue of the status and rights of Nagorno-Karabakh is fundamental for us. We expect that the Minsk Group co-chairs will, nonetheless, be able to organize peace talks on this agenda and to sign a peace agreement in the near future," he said, adding that the Armenian side is consistent in this issue, as well as in fulfilling the obligations undertaken within the framework of the trilateral statements signed on November 9, 2020 as well as on January 11 and November 26, 2021.
Mirzoyan reaffirmed the readiness of the Armenian side to take steps to improve border stability, and then to begin the process of delimiting and demarcating the border with Azerbaijan.
"I also want to mention that, as you know, negotiations are underway between Armenia and Azerbaijan on unblocking [regional] transport and economic communications. We have made proposals, and we are waiting for the response of the Azerbaijani side. We believe that we will be able to achieve tangible results both in terms of unblocking economic avenues and in the establishment of comprehensive peace in a broader sense—in the case of the relevant position of international partners and, probably, the constructive position of Azerbaijan," said the Armenian foreign minister.
