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“We are convinced that this summit is not the place and the BSEC is not the format to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Ashot Hovakimyan announced at the summit dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) held in Turkish city Istanbul on May 22, commenting on the accusations addressed to Armenia by Azerbaijani Speaker of the Parliament Ogtay Asadov.

“With this step the Azerbaijani side displayed its disrespectful attitude towards the BSCE Charter, principles and goals of the organization and this summit,” Mr. Hovakimyan noted.

As the Press Service of Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Panorama.am, in the context of the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs towards bellicose policy of Azerbaijan, in particular the April aggression and the elimination of its consequences, the Armenian Deputy FM briefed on Azerbaijan’s steps aimed at the failure of those efforts.

“The accusations, bellicose stance and unilateral maximalist claims cannot settle the conflict. The process of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement can be pushed forward in case Azerbaijan abandons its policy of using force and engages in good faith negotiations within the format agreed by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs,” the Armenian official noted.

The summit adopted the BSEC anniversary declaration, which reaffirms the economic nature of the organization.

As reported by the Turkish media, following the speech of Deputy FM Ashot Hovakimyan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who chaired the summit, agreed that the BSEC is not the proper platform for discussing the NK conflict and mentioned that the issue is handled by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries, one of the representatives of which – Russia – being present at the summit. Erdogan expressed hope that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries will find a resolution to the conflict lasting more than 20 years.