Peace is not just absence of fire - Ararat Mirzoyan 

ArmInfo.At the end of December, Armenia really received the proposals of the Azerbaijani side, but before that, as you know, Baku spoke for a long time from meetings with Yerevan both at the highest level and at the FMs'  level, Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan stated at a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart George Gerapetritis, in Yerevan, on January 10, as he answered a question about the progress of the negotiations with Azerbaijan.

In this vein, she recalled that the President of Azerbaijan refused  to meet in Granad and Brussels, but there were unofficial contacts at  the level of the Foreign Minister in Tehran and at the level of the  UN Security Council.

"But, in the conditions of an unconstructive atmosphere on the one  hand, we also saw constructive steps from Baku. For example, on the  release of prisoners, as well as other steps to build an atmosphere  of trust between the parties, including the support of the Baku  Candidate in COP29. Also, an exchange of proposals under a peace  treaty took place. Azerbaijani proposals were received at the end of  December, the Armenian side sent its proposals on January 4,  "Mirzoyan added.

At the same time, he stated the presence of some regression in the  content of Azerbaijani proposals under a peace treaty, and some  progress on some proposals. However, according to him, not regression  or progress at some stage is important, but the consolidation of the  basic principles on which a peace agreement should be based.

The diplomat added that these principles were repeatedly voiced - the  mutual recognition of territorial integrity without any reservations  and ambiguities.

"This is a question that requires maximum clarity. The contract  should be fixed by clear foundations, along which the process of  delimitation of borders will have to go. That is, it is territorial  integrity, inviolability of borders and the principles of  delimitation, this is that Armenia puts at the forefront," - He  emphasized the Foreign Minister of Armenia. In this vein, he added  that the lack of clarity is an occasion for future escalations and  aggression, and a peace agreement should be such that in the future  stability cannot be called into question.

Mirzoyan noted that another principle concerns unlocking regional  economic communications. "After all, the world is not just a lack of  firing. It is open boundaries, moving goods and people. It is  difficult to call the world a situation in which Armenia will remain  in the blockade. We are interested in disobedu, but we are sure that  unlocking should also occur according to several principles, they  also known: sovereignty of countries over communications, equality  and reciprocity," the minister explained.

According to Mirzoyan, if Azerbaijan has access to Armenian  communications, railways, Armenia should also be able to use the  railways of Azerbaijan.

Regarding the format of negotiations, the minister noticed that by  and large they were always straight.  "There were intermediaries who  contributed to the organization or tried to submit proposals. We are  interested in continuing the negotiation process. We expect that in  the future there will still be Baku's consent to continue meetings  and negotiations. And here I also consider the preparation of Greece  to provide intermediary assistance," the head concluded Foreign  Ministry of Armenia.