ArmInfo.Today, within the framework of the OSCE Ministerial Forum in Skopje, RA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid.
According to the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the meeting issues of cooperation between the RA and the OSCE were discussed. Noting that the OSCE remains the largest regional security organization, the Armenian minister emphasized that the organization must be able to fulfill its mandate and ensure equal use of rapid response mechanisms within the organization's territory.
Regarding security issues in the South Caucasus, Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that having violated the fundamental principles of the OSCE Helsinki Final Act, Azerbaijan not only subjected Nagorno-Karabakh to complete ethnic cleansing, but also continues to undermine the efforts of international mediators aimed at establishing stability in the region. The minister added that such violations, occurring in a climate of impunity, encourage the use or threat of force, and the international community must redouble its efforts to overcome existing challenges.
Ararat Mirzoyan stressed that Armenia is committed to normalizing relations with Azerbaijan on the basis of world-renowned principles, however, in order to achieve positive progress, it is important to equally sincerely involve all countries in the region in the implementation of the peace agenda.
On the same day, FM Mirzoyan met with Pia Kauma, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
"Interlocutors touched upon issues on OSCE activities, given the successful discussions of the OSCE PA autumn session, held in Yerevan last week. In the context of gross violations of the OSCE fundamental principles and the practice of use of force within the OSCE area, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia noted that the international community is facing the reality where the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh was forcibly displaced from their homeland after more than 9-months-long inhumane siege and large-scale attack by Azerbaijan on September 19.
In the context of steps aimed at ensuring stability in the South Caucasus, Ararat Mirzoyan briefed Pia Kauma on the latest developments in the process of normalization of relations with Azerbaijan and the main principles, in line with which Armenia sent its proposals on the draft treaty on normalization. Minister Mirzoyan noted that it is known that Azerbaijan refused to participate in recent high-level meetings, discussions during which could have allowed to achieve progress.
Emphasizing Armenia's interest in unblocking regional communications, Minister Mirozyan presented the details of the "Crossroads of Peace" project, stressing that all interested parties should realize the importance of using the existing opportunities, the press sevice of the RA MFA reports.