ArmInfo. There must be preconditions for positive changes after the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan stated this in an interview with journalists.
He noted that the talks are held in two directions. "First, to try to ensure progress in the negotiation process, it is glaringly obvious that in this direction one can not expect progress, judging by the actions of Baku. Second, to prevent the outbreak of hostilities," Kocharyan noted.
According to the Deputy Minister, after the agreements in Vienna and St. Petersburg, the main emphasis was placed on the second component. "In fact, Azerbaijan does not comply with international agreements, as well as tripartite agreements reached in 1995. It is very important to achieve progress in this direction," the Deputy Foreign Minister noted.
Kocharyan also said that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are very well aware that the two directions are closely interrelated. The deputy minister stressed that the absence of an atmosphere of confidence does not allow reaching progress. "And for establishing confidence both sides should at least refrain from shooting," Kocharyan stressed.
The Deputy Minister also noted that Azerbaijan hampers the participation of Artsakh in the negotiation process, since Baku does not want progress in the negotiations. "If we do not expect progress in the negotiation process, then we return to participation in the Nagorno Kharabakh fumes." The problem is whether Azerbaijan wants progress, "he stressed.
Kocharyan noted that the fact that Azerbaijan impedes the participation of Artsakh in the negotiations shows that he does not want progress. "It is known that when Baku wants to achieve some progress, it immediately starts negotiations with Stepanakert, as it was in 1994," the Deputy Foreign Minister stressed. Asked whether the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group can influence Baku to stop hampering Artsakh's participation in the negotiations, Kocharyan said that the Minsk Group co-chairs do their job, however, they do not have a mandate for coercion. "Their mandate envisages approachment of the positions of the parties and prevention of the resumption of hostilities, and if there is no progress in the negotiations, it is not the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs who are to blame, but Baku," he concluded.