FM: Armenia seeks regional peace and stability, but Azerbaijan constantly sends opposite message
Armenia is committed to peace and stability in the region, however Azerbaijan does not have a similar approach, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan told a joint news conference with Austria’s Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Alexander Schallenberg in Yerevan on Wednesday.
In Mirzoyan’s words, no matter how much the international community supports the sides in reaching an agreement, they need to show that political will themselves.
"I think it’s clear to all that Armenia is ready to build peace in the region. However, unfortunately, the official Baku constantly sends the opposite message,” he said, citing the Azerbaijani president’s latest statements on Armenia.
The aggressive anti-Armenian rhetoric, provocations along the border and Azerbaijan’s refusal to release Armenian prisoners of war do not contribute to a constructive atmosphere, the minister stressed.
"Although the trilateral statement [of November 9, 2020] did not envisage it, the Armenian side handed over the maps of minefields to Azerbaijan in an effort to prevent people’s deaths," Mirzoyan noted.
Also, he underscored that Azerbaijan has even restricted the access of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), blocking humanitarian efforts there.
He reiterated that Armenia strives for peace and stability in the region, but a similar approach is required from Azerbaijan.