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.