Italian FM visits Armenia

On April 3, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio, who is in Armenia on a working visit.

Prime Minister Pashinyan presented his observations on the processes taking place around Nagorno Karabakh and stressed the need for an adequate reaction of the international community to the provocative actions carried out by Azerbaijan. Nikol Pashinyan stressed the need for a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, emphasizing the importance of clarifying the status of Artsakh, ensuring security and protecting the fundamental rights of the Armenians of Artsakh. Luigi Di Maio expressed Italy's support for the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the President of the European Council Charles Michel, aimed at resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, establishing stability and peace in the South Caucasus. The Italian Minister also welcomed the dialogue between Armenia and Turkey aimed at normalization of relations.

President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan received a delegation headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy Luigi Di Maio. 

President Khachaturyan stressed that the path leading to a long-term and stable peace in this region is dialogue and the formation of an atmosphere of trust. The President stressed the importance of clarifying the status of Artsakh, ensuring the safety of people living there and protecting fundamental rights. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy also noted the importance of establishing a constructive dialogue between the parties and building mutual trust. Luigi Di Maio welcomed the fact that Armenia is striving to move forward on the path of establishing peace.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan made a statement following the meeting with the Italian Foreign Minister.

"Today we have touched in detail on the issues of international and regional security and stability. I presented the situation created as a result of the invasion of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the village of Parukh of Nagorno-Karabakh, periodic violations of the ceasefire regime in the conflict zone, steps to create a humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, Azerbaijan's policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and other manifestations. I think that the international community should give a proper and targeted response to these actions of the Azerbaijani side and contribute to efforts to establish peace in the South Caucasus. And in this regard, I want to note that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries have already clearly and specifically responded to the latest aggravation of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, stating that this is a consequence of the movement of Azerbaijani troops. I reaffirmed Armenia's readiness to continue peace negotiations and, as a result, conclude a peace treaty under the mandate and within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship. I informed that Azerbaijan had given us proposals that we considered acceptable, but incomplete, and supplemented them with our proposals and expressed our readiness to immediately start negotiations based on these principles," Mirzoyan said.

Italy is aware of the suffering of the peaceful population of Nagorno-Karabakh, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio said after the meeting with the Armenian Foreign Minister.

The Minister reaffirmed his country's deep solidarity with many victims of the conflict, stressing that Italy is ready to support the civilian population. "We have a positive attitude towards direct high-level contacts between Armenia and Azerbaijan and will promote a peaceful, comprehensive and stable solution - a solution that guarantees the prospect of peace and stability in the entire Caucasus region, which is indeed a strategic crossroads for the whole of Europe," the Italian Foreign Minister said.

OSCE calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve disputed issues through negotiations

OSCE calls on both Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage in negotiations in good faith in order to come up with a comprehensive solution to all unresolved issues, the statement of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Poland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Zbigniew Rau, reads. 

"The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Poland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Zbigniew Rau, concluded his visit to Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. The trip focused on existing security challenges and efforts towards sustainable peace as well as strengthening the co-operation between the OSCE and the three states in the South Caucasus region.

During his visit to Azerbaijan, the OSCE Chairman met with President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. The talks focused on the OSCE’s engagement towards lasting and sustainable peace, and finding solutions to outstanding issues between Azerbaijan and Armenia. "We hope to make headway, particularly in urgent humanitarian issues, such as the release of detainees, exchange of information about missing persons, demining, and protection of historical and cultural sites," he stressed.

In Baku, as well as in Yerevan, Rau highlighted the role of his Personal Representative Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk and offered that his involvement could be enhanced: "His work can bring added value by promoting security, building trust, facilitating humanitarian access and contributing to other vital issues."

In Armenia, Minister Rau met with President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. "Poland’s Chairmanship of the Organization strongly supports all initiatives aimed to facilitate dialogue, which is indispensable to deescalate the persisting tensions on the ground. We are calling on both Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage in negotiations in good faith in order to come up with a comprehensive solution to all unresolved issues," he stressed.

Marina Kaljurand urges Azerbaijan to immediately withdraw troops |armenpress.am|

Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus of the European Parliament for Affair with South Caucasus, MEP Marina Kaljurand held a video conference with Co-Chair of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee Javanshir Feyziyev.

“Yesterday, I held a videoconference meeting with the Co-Chair of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee Mr Javanshir Feyziyev. I shared my concern about Azerbaijan’s unprovoked military intrusion into Nagorno- Karabakh last week, violating the ceasefire agreement of 9 November 2020.

I urged the immediate withdrawal of forces back behind the line of contact, in line with calls from all three Minsk Group Co-Chair countries. I also recalled the European Parliament resolution of 10 March 2022 on the destruction of cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh and stressed the need for Azerbaijan to urgently allow the planned UNESCO independent technical mission to access the region and perform its work unhindered.

I welcomed the announcement of the meeting of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the President of the European Council on 6 April in Brussels and expressed hope that the EU will be able to contribute to the achievement of sustainable peace in the region. I urged Azerbaijan to refrain from any unilateral actions that might undermine such efforts.

Last but not least, I raised my concerns and asked for additional information regarding the UK ruling on the seizure of a substantial amount of money, laundered through the so-called Azerbaijan laundromat scheme, from accounts of Mr Feyziyev’s close family members”, she said.

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