Armenia denies Azerbaijan's false accusations of ceasefire violations - Mirzoyan
YEREVAN, March 20. /ARKA/. Despite the statement on the completion of the draft Peace Treaty, in recent days, Azerbaijan has made completely false accusations related to ceasefire violations, said Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
He emphasized that Armenia categorically denies these accusations.
In a briefing with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, the Armenian minister noted that by agreeing to the final version of the draft peace treaty, Armenia paved the way for finalizing the text and completing negotiations. "Thus, the treaty is ready for signing, and Armenia is prepared to sign an agreement that can serve as a crucial foundation for establishing sustainable peace in the region," Mirzoyan stated.
He also highlighted other key areas such as border demarcation and the unblocking of regional communications.
"Last year, we made significant progress in the demarcation process, successfully delimiting over 12 km of the border line based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration. We presented Azerbaijan with concrete proposals for unblocking regional communications, the implementation of which could initially ensure the operation of the railway, and subsequently, create broad opportunities for expanding communications," said Foreign Minister Mirzoyan.
He noted that the issue of communications extends beyond the borders of these two countries. To connect to regional and global logistics routes and contribute to them, Armenia initiated the "Crossroads of Peace" program – a project aimed at forming a comprehensive structure for regional communications, including roads, railways, pipelines, and energy networks.
In order to increase predictability and strengthen mutual trust, Armenia has also taken constructive initiatives to create mechanisms for mutual arms control and verification.
"Unfortunately, the above proposals have not received a constructive response from Azerbaijan. We have yet to receive a positive reply to proposals regarding communications and arms control. To achieve the desired peace, Armenia's strong political will must be reciprocated," Mirzoyan stated.
He further explained that both sides must work toward creating an atmosphere of trust and dialogue to achieve peace. "In this context, resolving unresolved humanitarian issues, such as the release of Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees, could significantly ease the situation," the minister added.
The day before, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan mentioned that the draft peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been agreed upon and is waiting to be signed, with him ready to sign it.
Between March 16 and 19, the Armenian Defense Ministry refuted Azerbaijan's claims about shootings on the border 10 times. The Armenian Defense Ministry consistently pointed out that "the Republic of Azerbaijan has not provided the Republic of Armenia with any factual data or evidence of ceasefire violations by the Armenian Armed Forces."
