Armenian Deputy FM refrains answering whether Pashinyan discussed  POWs with Aliyev in Kazan 

ArmInfo.Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan refrained from answering the question of whether Pashinyan discussed the issue of prisoners of war at a meeting with Aliyev. "The issue of prisoners  of war is brought up in all meetings between representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan," Kostanyan said on November 7, in response to a question from journalists about whether the matter was addressed  during the recent meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Kazan on the sidelines of BRICS.

"After the meeting between the heads of the two states, we have  observed an intensification in the negotiation process, and  in the  general logic of the peace treaty, the issues highlighted by  journalists are also being discussed," Kostanyan switched to another  topic. When asked by a journalist about Armenia's efforts to resolve  the issue of Armenian prisoners of war, Kostanyan mentioned that they  were maintaining regular communication with the International  Committee of the Red Cross. The organization visits Armenian citizens  detained in Baku on a monthly basis.

"We receive information, including updates on their health status,  and we actively collaborate with international partners, like the UN  special procedures, who have a clear mandate to participate in these  processes," the deputy minister noted, adding that the Republic of  Armenia's priority is the return of all its citizens.

At the same time, Kostanyan refrained from directly answering to the  question of whether Armenia would acknowledge the military-political  leadership of Artsakh as prisoners in Baku. He only reiterated the  memorized words that all compatriots in Azerbaijan must be returned,  and this is important for ending the conflict.  Regarding Armenia's  participation in the Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku, Kostanyan  stated that a decision has not yet been finalized.