Zohrab Mnatsakanyan Engages in Phone Conversations with Representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries

On November 12, Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan held phone conversations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Bigan. The discussions revolved around the situation following the joint statement issued by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the President of the Russian Federation on November 10.

In this context, Minister Mnatsakanyan emphasized that the aforementioned statement aims to establish a ceasefire and deploy peacekeepers in Artsakh and cannot be considered a comprehensive resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Armenian Foreign Minister and the senior representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries also addressed Turkey's key role in the planning, incitement, and execution of Azerbaijan's aggression against Artsakh, manifested both through direct involvement in military operations and the engagement of foreign militant terrorists in the conflict zone.

He clearly highlighted the exclusion of any Turkish role in the peacekeeping operations in Artsakh, despite Turkey's recent actions in this direction.

Minister Mnatsakanyan stressed the importance of prompt actions by the international community to address the humanitarian crisis created in Artsakh as a result of Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression.

The head of Armenia's foreign affairs reiterated deep concerns regarding the fate of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territories under Azerbaijani occupation in Artsakh. He pointed out that the international community is well aware of Azerbaijan's barbaric treatment of Armenian heritage, resulting in the complete destruction of Armenian heritage monuments in Nakhijevan, in Azerbaijan proper, and in the territories of Artsakh that were occupied by Azerbaijan during the first Nagorno-Karabakh war.

The interlocutors emphasized the importance of ensuring the continuity of the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship as the only format with a mandate for international mediation. In this regard, Minister Mnatsakanyan highlighted that all issues related to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process are subject to discussion exclusively within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship, and it is in this format that the interests of the Armenian population of Artsakh will be fully addressed.

As a priority, the Foreign Minister underscored the need for a comprehensive guarantee of the status of Artsakh and the security of the Armenian population there.