Mirzoyan to Aliyev: Karabakh conflict remains unresolved

ArmInfo.At a meeting with a delegation led by OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President  Margareta Cederfelt,  Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, presented  positions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process, as  well as the ongoing work to normalize relations between Armenia and  Azerbaijan.

According to the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, the  Armenian Foreign Minister pointed to the role of the OSCE as the  largest regional security organization and highly appreciated the  cooperation with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly as a parliamentary  platform for dialogue on ensuring comprehensive, indivisible security  in the OSCE area of responsibility.

At the same time, Mirzoyan stressed that, despite Azerbaijan's  statements that there is no Nagorno- Karabakh, that there is no  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, there is a general consensus among the  international community that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains  unresolved.

The Armenian Foreign Minister also stressed that the Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict should receive its comprehensive settlement within the  framework of the only mediation mandate recognized by the  international community - the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk  Group.

He expressed concern about the ongoing anti-Armenian and militant  rhetoric of the Azerbaijani authorities, provocative actions against  Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Mirzoyan condemned Azerbaijan's ongoing  statements about claims to the sovereign territory of Armenia, which  cast doubt on the sincerity of Azerbaijan's statements about  achieving peace in the region.

The Minister recalled that Azerbaijan, in gross violation of  international humanitarian law, continues to hold Armenian prisoners  of war and civilians hostage, and also pursues a targeted policy of  destroying the Armenian religious and cultural heritage in the  territories under its control. In this context, the importance of  practical steps by the international community to fully address these  urgent issues was noted.

It should be noted that yesterday, Azerbaijani President Ilham  Aliyev, speaking at the opening of the IX Global Baku Forum, once  agin threatened Armenia with new military operations if it does not  fulfill the Azerbaijani agenda. Thus, Aliyev assured that Azerbaijan  had settled the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and there was no need for  more co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. "We have already been  informed that the institution of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group  will no longer function. It is time for them to retire. Thus, I want  to express our position that any speculation in Armenia about the  Minsk Group or in some another country only causes irritation in  Azerbaijan. We have settled the conflict. The Madrid principles  developed by the Minsk Group have been resolved. Now we need to think  about ways to normalize relations with Armenia, sign a peace treaty,"  Aliyev said.

He also threatened Armenia with war if it refuses to provide the  so-called corridor through the Syunik region of the Republic of  Armenia and continues to raise the issue of the status of  Nagorno-Karabakh.