Armenian Foreign Minister and European Council MP Reaffirm that Prisoners Must Be Returned Immediately Without Preconditions

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that the parties discussed the ongoing development of cooperation between Armenia and the EU at various levels. Both sides emphasized the importance of recent high-level political dialogue in this direction, during which European Council President Charles Michel and European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi visited Yerevan this month.

In this context, the interlocutors addressed the EU's investment and economic programs, which align with the priorities set by the Armenian government for economic development, democracy, and good governance.

During the meeting, regional security issues were also discussed, including the ways to overcome the humanitarian consequences of the Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression unleashed against Artsakh. The necessity for the immediate return of Armenian military prisoners and civilians held in Azerbaijan without preconditions was reaffirmed, with acting Foreign Minister Armen Grigoryan highlighting the European Parliament resolution adopted on this matter on May 20.

Grigoryan presented the situation created by Azerbaijan's encroachments on Armenia's sovereign territory, particularly the incursions of Azerbaijani armed forces into the Syunik and Gegharkunik regions, as well as the creation of a new hotspot of tension towards the village of Yeraskh over the past week.

Grigoryan emphasized that Armenia is ready to engage in the peaceful resolution process of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue based on the approaches proposed by the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group, which reaffirm the principles developed by the co-chairmanship, including the right to self-determination.