Complete Cessation of Hostilities Will Allow Us to Move Forward on All Fronts: Zohrab Mnatsakanyan

RA Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan stated during a press briefing after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov that the discussion was constructive and held in an atmosphere of high mutual trust, and it was quite substantial.

“We highly appreciate Russia's mediation efforts in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Our position is based on multilateral cooperation, and towards this end, we have a multi-vector dialogue. We attach special importance to the dynamics of high-level visits. Russia remains Armenia's main economic partner,” Mnatsakanyan noted.

Addressing the Artsakh conflict, Mnatsakanyan mentioned that it has become a security threat to the region. “Our compatriots in Artsakh face an existential threat. The Azerbaijani military-political leadership is acting aggressively against the people of Artsakh, insisting on a military solution to the conflict and the physical elimination of the population,” the minister stated, presenting damage to civilian infrastructures, residential buildings, and cultural institutions, as well as providing data on injured and killed civilians.

Mnatsakanyan reminded that during the second attack on the Holy Savior Church in Shushi, one of the symbols of Artsakh, Russian journalists were also injured. “There is an existential danger that we have been talking about for decades, which the population of Artsakh is facing. This is a negative factor, particularly the direct involvement of Turkey, the involvement of terrorist fighters from Syria and Lebanon. This has been proven not only by our sources but has also been recorded and declared by the international community. Russia's role in this process is very important,” Mnatsakanyan emphasized, highlighting the joint statement made two days ago.

According to him, there are still no significant results from the ceasefire. Mnatsakanyan emphasized that Azerbaijan is not fulfilling its obligations regarding the ceasefire. “Only with the complete cessation of hostilities can we move forward on all fronts. Armenia has been and remains committed to the exclusive peaceful resolution of the Artsakh conflict through negotiations, and we will do everything to contribute to that. Today and tomorrow, I will be having meetings with my counterparts and co-chairs, and I want to emphasize that the impact and the blow that Azerbaijan has dealt to the peace process cannot be ignored. Armenia is the only guarantor of the security of the people of Artsakh, and we will do everything to protect all the rights of the people of Artsakh and to rid the region of terrorists and negative influences,” Mnatsakanyan added.