Minister Nalbandian with Bert Koenders, the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands
An excerpt from the statement of Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandian at the 7th European Union and Eastern Partnership meeting of Foreign Ministers referencing to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the Azerbaijani stance following the Vienna meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents earlier in the month.
Dear colleagues,The Riga Summit also reiterated full support to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, based on the five statements of Presidents of the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries adopted since 2009. Most of us remember how Azerbaijan tried to block the Riga Summit Declaration because of the reference to these statements. This fact alone vividly demonstrates Azerbaijan’s ignorance to the proposals of the mediator countries made on behalf of the international community.
The meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held last week in Vienna was a productive one with the concrete agreements and commitments, including unconditional implementation of 1994-1995 cease-fire agreements, creation of investigation mechanism, and enhance the capacities of the office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.
Regrettably, only days after the meeting Azerbaijani officials are making futile attempts to cast doubt on its outcome, presenting their own distorted interpretations contradicting the statement made on the results of the meeting by the high representatives of the Co-Chair countries. By fabricated accusations, Baku is trying to distract the attention of the international community from crimes committed by Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the vivid facts of the gross violations by Azerbaijan of the International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.
Armenia together with the Co-Chair countries will do its utmost for the implementation of the agreements reached in Vienna and to continue efforts for the exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
