I'm Ready to Meet with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister: Zohrab Mnatsakanyan

The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, discussed the ongoing efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue in an interview with Interfax. Mnatsakanyan noted that the co-chairs have accomplished significant work in various directions. He emphasized that one of the crucial aspects of this work remains the strengthening of the ceasefire regime and the implementation of permanent international monitoring mechanisms.

Mnatsakanyan also responded to the question of whether he is ready to meet with his Azerbaijani counterpart, stating, “Of course, I am ready to meet; we are prepared to continue this work. Here I want to emphasize once again that it is important to seek compromises, to ensure security, and to abandon the use of force and maximalist approaches. For Armenia, there are specific and important priorities. The status of Nagorno-Karabakh is an absolute priority for us,” he said.

He added that the realization of the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh without restrictions and ensuring real security for Artsakh are important priorities. “We are prepared to work with the co-chairs and the Azerbaijani side to find solutions that will allow us to align and compare the possible degree of compromise. There is another important issue concerning Nagorno-Karabakh: for thirty years, Nagorno-Karabakh has demonstrated its ability to organize its own social life, to ensure its own security, and to undertake international obligations,” Mnatsakanyan noted.

The Armenian Foreign Minister also highlighted that the full inclusion of Artsakh in the negotiation process is a very important issue and primarily of a practical nature, as it would further strengthen the sense of ownership of this negotiation process among the leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh, which, being elected by the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, has the corresponding mandate to represent the interests of that people.