Our Perceptions of the OSCE Minsk Group Format Are Different: Eduard Aghajanyan Responds to Lavrov's Statement

The perceptions of the OSCE Minsk Group format are different for us. This was stated by Eduard Aghajanyan, the chairman of the Permanent Commission on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly, in an interview with Petros Ghazaryan on Public Television, while responding to a question regarding Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement that the West has canceled the trilateral co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group.

“Our position or our perceptions are different, and of course, from the Russian side, there is probably no need to speak about this. We have positive signals from the Russian side, a willingness to continue working in this format. And we have received the same willingness, in fact, in separate contacts with our partners from both France and the USA,” he said.

Eduard Aghajanyan added that during these separate contacts, the USA and France have emphasized that this period creates certain difficulties and complications regarding sitting at the same table with their Russian counterparts. “And I assume the same problem may exist on the opposite side as well,” he noted.

When asked whether this means that there is a need to search for a new format, Aghajanyan replied, “No, that is exactly what I wanted to address. I believe this at least means that the relevance of the Minsk Group's activities cannot be questioned in any way.”

In response to the observation that Sergey Lavrov stated the West has canceled the trilateral co-chairmanship of the Minsk Group, Eduard Aghajanyan reacted, saying, “That is Lavrov's perception. I am confident that under such a tense backdrop, similar perceptions are possible, including for our partners on the other side.”