NA MP: There are currently no grounds for escalation of the situation  in the South Caucasus region

ArmInfo.There are currently no grounds for escalation of the situation in the South Caucasus region,  as stated by Sargis Khandanyan, Chairman of the RA National Assembly Committee on Foreign Relations, to journalists on March 4.  

He noted that the Armenian side has made several constructive  proposals to Azerbaijan, but they have not yet received a positive  response. Nevertheless, according to the parliamentarian, there are  no grounds for an escalation of violence in the region.  In response  to the calls of the Russian Foreign Ministry to the Armenian  leadership regarding the unblocking of transport and economic  communications in the region, as outlined in the trilateral statement  by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, Khandanyan noted  that there were other important provisions in that agreement,  including security guarantees from Russian peacekeepers. However, in  practice, the Russian peacekeepers did not fulfill the provisions of  the trilateral statement.

Regarding the unblocking of communications, as Khandanyan emphasized,  the issue of  security on Armenian territory is solely the  responsibility of the Armenian side. A corresponding unit has been  established in the National Security Service of the Republic of  Armenia to address this issue.

Speaking about Armenian-Turkish relations, the MP expressed hope for  the swift establishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of  borders. In his opinion, there are no obstacles in this matter.   Khandanyan sees the reason for the lack of progress in the fact that  Turkey, unlike Armenia, is not sending positive signals. It also  appears that Baku is trying to derail the peace process with Yerevan,   a fact that Turkish officials were made aware of in Vienna on the  sidelines of the OSCE PA. "They themselves, in conversations with us,  stated Ankara's interest in ensuring our region is safe and open for  economic activity. But if these statements are genuine, then they  should respond to positive signals from the Armenian side," said the  head of the NA Committee.