Armenian FM calls for resumption of Nagorno-Karabakh talks under aegis of OSCE Minsk Group
YEREVAN, Jan. 21. /ARKA/. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan received on Friday a delegation, led by Isabelle Dumont, a representative of the French Presidency of the EU Council and advisor to the French presidential office, and Toivo Klaar, the EU special representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.
It said during the meeting, humanitarian issues that have emerged as a result of the 44-day war in 2020 in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone were discussed.
In this context, the need for the immediate return of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages, held in Azerbaijan, was stressed.
The sides exchanged also views on steps to improve security and stability on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. In this regard, Mirzoyan stressed the importance of implementing the agreements enshrined in the trilateral statement signed by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan last November 26 in Russian Sochi and the agreement reached following the meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Brussels last December 14 that was organized with the mediation of the President of the Council of Europe.
The need for full compliance with the ceasefire regime and the Azerbaijani leadership's refusal of bellicose rhetoric was also stressed.
Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs called for resuming full negotiations on the comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijani armed forces, backed by Turkey and foreign mercenaries and terrorists, attacked Nagorno-Karabakh along the entire front line using rocket and artillery weapons, heavy armored vehicles, military aircraft and prohibited types of weapons such as cluster bombs and phosphorus weapons.
After 44 days of the war, on November 9, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on the cessation of all hostilities. According to the document, the town of Shushi, the districts of Agdam, Kelbajar and Lachin were handed over to Azerbaijan, with the exception of a 5-kilometer corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia.
A Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed along the contact line in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor. -0-
