RA FM: Neither yesterday nor today Azerbaijan is interested in a  sustainable and verifiable ceasefire

ArmInfo. Neither yesterday nor today Azerbaijan is interested in a sustainable and verifiable ceasefire. Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan stated this  in an interview with Sputnuk Internatial.

As the press service of The RA MFA reports, the interview of the RA  Foreign Minister reads in particular:  "Question: Azerbaijan's  President Ilham Aliyev has recently said that the statemen"t made by  the parties upon the completion of negotiations in Moscow implies the  withdrawal of Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh, adding that Baku  expects that a schedule for the withdrawal of Armenian servicemen  will be presented. How do you assess such statements of Azerbaijan's  President? Is Yerevan ready to discuss with Baku the schedule for the  Armenian troop pullout from the Nagorno-Karabakh region?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: These days President Aliyev made so many  deceptive and controversial statements which don't deserve to be  commented on. The Joint statement of October 10 is there, it was  reconfirmed also on October 10 and October 25 and there is nothing  agreed beyond that text. 

Question. Do you regard the deployment of the Russian military  observers as an efficient measure of ensuring the implementation of  the ceasefire?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Armenia has been always supportive of the idea  of permanent ceasefire monitoring which was introduced in the peace  process by the OSCE Minsk Group Co- Chairs immediately after the 2016  April escalation. Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to the expansion of  the OSCE monitoring team and ceasefire investigation mechanism.  However, later on Azerbaijan refused to implement this agreement.  This indicates that neither yesterday nor today Azerbaijan is  interested in a sustainable and verifiable ceasefire. Our position is  unchanged and we support deployment of observers.

Question: During your recent visit to Moscow you have mentioned that  "quite substantial" consultations are ongoing between Armenia and  Azerbaijan on the creation of the ceasefire verification mechanisms  in Nagorno-Karabakh in accordance with the agreements reached in  Russia's capital. At what stage are currently these talks, and when  do you expect these mechanisms to be established? What are the  obstacles that stall the process? Does Armenia consider holding a  meeting with Azerbaijan on the ceasefire verification mechanisms in  Moscow in the near future, and if yes, what is the approximate date?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: On October 10 foreign ministers of Russia,  Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed in Moscow the joint statement which  through its subsequent articles presents itself as a road map for its  implementation. Thus the first three articles, which envisage  cessation of fire, elaboration of parameters of ceasefire, exchange  of bodies and PoW should be unconditionally and immediately  implemented.

The main diverging issue at the negotiations was reluctance of  Azerbaijan to commit itself to a sustainable and verifiable  ceasefire. Azerbaijan has been refusing to establish verification  mechanisms in line with its longstanding position of avoiding  sustainable ceasefire and keeping room for blame game. 

Question: According to various reports, a new group of Syrian  militants is due to be deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh through Turkey.  At the same time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan keeps  refuting such claims. Do you have any information or evidence on the  planned dispatch of new fighters from Syria to Nagorno-Karabakh?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: There is overwhelming factual evidence on the  presence and ongoing transfer of foreign terrorist fighters by Turkey  from Syria and Libya, which is confirmed by the intelligence of the  OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries and coverage from the conflict  zone itself. 

No one can assert that Turkey has been acting as an impartial or  neutral player in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,  including Turkey itself.

Turkey views this conflict as an opportunity to project its power in  yet another neighbouring region - the South Caucasus - and this  attitude of exploiting conflict and inflicting enormous human  suffering on peoples of the region for the sake of power projection  should be countered not encouraged."