Nalbandian: Azerbaijan refused to join OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries’ statement in Vienna
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, who is in Greece on an official visit, has released details on the December 6 meeting with Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Vienna.
“The heads of the delegations of the mediator countries Russia, France and the U.S., the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, issued a statement on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution. Armenia was ready to join them, however, Azerbaijan rejected and, as a result, we did not manage to have a joint statement of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Co-Chair countries. This situation has continuously repeated during the OSCE Ministerial Councils,” Nalbandian said.
The top Armenian official reiterated Armenia’s commitment to the exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict based on the Co-Chars’ proposals, stating there is no alternative to the peace talks.
“It is evident that what has been proposed by the Co-Chairs and supported by Armenia has been rejected by Azerbaijan and this is the main reason that hinders the advancement of the peace process,” the minister highlighted.
Reflecting on the upcoming meeting, Minister Nalbandian confirmed an agreement has been reached upon the initiative of the Co-Chairs to organize a meeting between the foreign minister of the two countries in the second half of January.
“As always we are going to such kind of meeting with the constructive approach. If Baku abides to the calls of the Co-Chairs to strictly respect the ceasefire, implements previously reached agreements, reiterates its adherence to the principles of the conflict settlement proposed by the Co-Chairs and constructively engages in the negotiations that will pave the way to move the peace process forward and change the status-quo,” he added.
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