May 17, 2016 - 12:36 AMT
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Azeri pledge to refrain from war inspires little confidence: Armenia

At the Vienna-hosted meeting, the Armenian side sought to find out whether the Nagorno Karabakh negotiations are deadlocked, President Serzh Sargsyan told reporters on his way back home.

“We aimed to find out whether there is an alternative to war and if the conflict can be settled with minimal losses,” Sargsyan said, adding that the results of the meeting are satisfactory.

“Generally, my colleagues and I are satisfied with the outcome of the meeting. There are some reasons not to delve into the details; however, the Azerbaijani President did assure that his country doesn’t intend to resolve the conflict through hostilities.”

The President hinted at the same time that Azerbaijani President's assurances inspire little confidence.

“There have repeatedly been such pledges but the agreement hasn’t been maintained for several years now,” he said.

“But we have no right to solely follow our assumptions or predictions as the war isn’t the best solution. In any case, we are ready for any development, at the same time seeking a peaceful solution.”

President Sargsyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev participated in a meeting on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement in Vienna on Monday, May 16. The summit was the first one since the escalation in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone.

According to the President, the Armenian side proposed holding the next meeting after the installation of mechanisms of monitoring the situation on the contact line.

“This will be a rather constructive measure,” he added.

“I don’t think violations will halt altogether starting tomorrow but I do hope the situation will be calmer.”

Read also:Mechanisms for investigating truce violations to be installed in Karabakh

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