One of the most important topics of discussion with Minister Lavrov was a possible document between Armenia and Azerbaijan, issues related to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated about this at Thursday’s joint news conference following his meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
"I reaffirmed the readiness of the Armenian government to make efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region. The key in this context is the addressing of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which will include ensuring the right of security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and all the rights and fundamental points of deciding the final status," Mirzoyan said.
He recalled that the principles of the settlement were developed by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and said "we are interested in intensifying this structure endowed with an international mandate."
The Armenian FM stressed the role of Russia in stopping Azerbaijan's military aggression against Artsakh, and the deployment of Russian peacekeepers as a factor in preventing provocations, ensuring the security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, and creating conditions for returning to a normal life, ensuring security and stability.
"Armenia continues to believe that the Russian peacekeeping mission is able to restore the status quo established by the November 9 [2020] statement—as it was on March 23 of this year, which was violated on March 24 by the invasion of the village of Parukh in Karabakh by the Azerbaijani armed forces," said the Armenian FM, lauding Russia's efforts, including the most important issue of the return of the captured Armenians in Azerbaijan, in order to fulfill the provisions of the November 9 statement.
The Armenian official noted that thanks to these efforts it became possible to return some of these captives to Armenia, but a year and a half later Azerbaijan, violating international humanitarian law, hinders the implementation of the provisions of the aforesaid statement and refuses to return the remaining Armenian captives and detainees.
"We hope that the Russian side will make even greater efforts in this regard," Mirzoyan added.
The FM stressed the importance of preserving the Armenian cultural heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan.
"I emphasized that against the background of vandalism and distortion on belonging, the issue requires urgent international intervention. I have to note the rhetoric of Armenophobia, the ongoing provocations, and the regular violations of the ceasefire by the Azerbaijani leadership," Ararat Mirzoyan said.
