Armenia urges Azerbaijan to reject aggressive rhetoric in Karabakh talksJuly 12, 2018 - 11:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on Wednesday, July 11 stressed the importance of refraining from aggressive rhetoric in the process of the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Mnatsakanyan was meeting his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov for the first time since the change of power in Armenia. Also attending and mediating the meeting were the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs -- Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America -- as well as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk. The Armenian foreign policy chief thanked the envoys for organizing the meeting in Brussels and stressed the importance of the peace process and the need for maintaining the dynamics of negotiations. Mnatsakanyan said negotiations have no alternative, and called for an atmosphere of peace, the strengthening of mutual trust, steps to reduce tensions, maintaining the ceasefire and refraining from abusive rhetoric. According to him, the realistic and constructive involvement of all the parties is key in reaching lasting peace. Mnatsakanyan is part of the Armenian delegation currently participating in the NATO Summit of July 11-12 in the Belgian capital. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. Azerbaijan razes historic Armenian church to ground Azerbaijan has demolished the historic Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (known as Kanach Zham). |