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MP Artur Hovhannisyan of Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party refrained from commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s latest statements on Armenia.

Speaking at an international conference in Baku on Thursday, Aliyev accused Armenia of undermining the peace process and demanded that Yerevan begin dialogue with so-called “Western Azerbaijanis” in order to ensure their “right to return to their ancestral lands”, referring to modern-day Armenia.

He also insisted on a change of Armenia’s constitution and criticized the country’s arms purchases.

Hovhannisyan claimed that peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan had not stalled despite Aliyev’s remarks.

“Negotiations are underway. I consider it inexpedient to comment on Aliyev’s statements. The chief negotiators continue engagements with Azerbaijan and our international partners to finalize the peace agreement,” he told a press briefing on Friday.

The deputy neither confirmed nor denied talks between Yerevan and Baku regarding “Western Azerbaijanis”.