Hovhannes Igityan: The main purpose of Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting  was  an attempt to resume the negotiation process

ArmInfo.The main purpose of the meeting between Pashinyan and Aliyev was an attempt to resume the negotiation process, which was interrupted by the aggression of  Azerbaijan in 2016. Deputy Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on  Foreign Affairs, lawmaker from My Step bloc Hovhannes Igityan told  ArmInfo's correspondent on April 1.  "That is, there were no special  expectations from this meeting, nothing revolutionary could happen,  "said Igityan.

At the same time, he expressed disappointment with the fact that  Baku's statements during the meetings and after them cardinally  differ from each other.

"Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said that the parties  should restore the level of trust, prepare our people for peace, and  then made completely different statements in Baku. Aliyev behaves  similarly. The representatives of Azerbaijan make statements for  domestic consumption which they will never voice in the format of the  Minsk Group, since this would be a violation of the obligations that  the parties assumed. In such a situation, it is difficult to  understand how to behave, "Igityan stressed.  The lawmaker noted that  the beginning of a real negotiation process is inevitable, another  thing is the time when this process will begin.

"The Armenian side in the person of Prime Minister Pashinyan  expressed its most important approach, namely the need to return  Artsakh to the negotiating table. And seeing the position of the  Azerbaijani side, we can conclude that the process has begun," he  said.

He noted that it is also positive that today issues are discussed  that will lead the parties to mutual understanding, and then to a  consensus. "Of course, the solution of this process will not be soon,  as there were a large number of victims on both sides. But we must  conduct negotiations in the most peaceful conditions, without the use  of military force. Then, perhaps, after a while, the atmosphere of  hatred will weaken and we can better understand each other's  position, "concluded Igityan.

To note, on March 29, Aliyev and Pashinyan met in Vienna in the  presence of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia and the  Co-Chairs, then continued talks in a tete-a-tete format. Three hours  later, the ministers of the two countries and representatives of  Russia, the United States and France again joined Aliev and  Pashinyan. In total, the negotiations lasted three and a half hours.  After the meeting, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs made a statement in  which they noted that the talks were held in a very constructive  atmosphere. The leaders stressed the importance of creating a  favorable atmosphere for peace and dialogue.