We Need Clarifications on the Nagorno-Karabakh Issue, Says French Foreign Minister

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has emphasized the significant responsibility resting on the shoulders of the OSCE Minsk Group countries regarding the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The minister made this statement during an interview with a French television channel.

“France, Russia, and the USA bear special responsibility. It is precisely they that the UN has tasked with overseeing the fulfillment of the obligations undertaken by the conflicting parties. As co-chairs of the Minsk Group, we have made considerable efforts to achieve a ceasefire. In just one week, three initiatives have been launched, particularly by my Russian and American counterparts Sergey Lavrov and the USA, to end hostilities; however, they have not yielded results so far,” Le Drian stated.

He added, “The international community has imposed this responsibility on us, and Armenia itself wishes for us to uphold this duty. All of this requires us to adhere to a balanced position. However, it must be acknowledged that there is uncertainty regarding the achieved ceasefire, and we wish for clarifications to be provided in this regard. These clarifications concern displaced persons, as many Armenians have lived in Nagorno-Karabakh, and we strive to ensure that those Armenians who have left their homes can return there.”

Le Drian also highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the issue of mercenaries. “We need to reach their withdrawal, which is agreed upon by all co-chairing countries of the Minsk Group. This also concerns the preservation of religious and cultural heritage. In this regard, French President Emmanuel Macron has initiated measures in collaboration with UNESCO, which I also discussed last week with my Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts,” he added.

Le Drian stressed that only after addressing these issues can discussions regarding the status of Nagorno-Karabakh be conducted. He noted that he recently discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh issue with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his visit to Paris.