Armenian, EU officials discussed Armenian-Azerbaijani border delimitation and return of POWs

YEREVAN, Jan. 21. /ARKA/. Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan received a delegation of the EU Council Presidency and representatives of the European Union on Friday, the Security Council’s press service reported.

It said the delegation comprised Counselor of the Diplomatic Department of the French Presidency Isabelle Dumont, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar, EU Ambassador for Eastern Partnership Brice Roquoi, Special Advisor to the European Council President Magdalena Gronoy, as well as head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin and French Ambassador to Armenia Anne Louyot.

The sides expressed satisfaction with the intensive cooperation between Armenia and the EU. Grigoryan stressed Armenia's willingness to continue to cooperate with the European Union in the processes of Armenia's democratization and ensuring security in the region.

In the course of the meeting the sides touched upon the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, including the launch of delimitation and demarcation process as soon as possible and creation of appropriate atmosphere for it.

Dumont and Claret, speaking of humanitarian issues, stressed that the EU is actively working to bring Armenian prisoners from Azerbaijan to Armenia as soon as possible.

Groups of Azerbaijani troops illegally crossed the Armenian state border on May 12, 2021 and advanced about 3 km into Armenia’s sovereign territory in Gegharkunik and Syunik regions allegedly to "adjust the borders." Part of them pulled back later, but some are still in Armenian sovereign territory.

On May 27, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan proposed that Armenian and Azerbaijani troops withdraw from the border areas to the places of their permanent deployment, suggesting that Russia deploy Russian border guards along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border - from Sotk (Gegharkunik) to Khoznavar (Syunik). After that, according to his plan, it will be possible to begin the delimitation and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Yerevan demands that the international community respond to the aggressive policy of Azerbaijan, which is directed against Armenia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and regional security. -0-