Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan had a phone conversation with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, on Wednesday, July 22. The newly appointed Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov also joined the conversation, a statement from the Armenian Foreign Ministry reveals.

Mnatsakanyan weighed in on the recent escalation in certain parts of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as a result of the hostilities instigated by Azerbaijan on July 12.

The Armenian foreign policy chief also stressed the importance of implementation of previous agreements on reducing tensions, restoring and strengthening the ceasefire. In this context, Mnatsakanyan stressed the priority of denouncement of bellicose rhetoric and war threats by the authorities of Azerbaijan.

Referring to the format of the phone conversation, Mnatsakanyan particularly underlined the exclusive role of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

Minister Mnatsakanyan also highly appreciated the unequivocal support of the EU High Representative/Vice President to the format of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, as well as his remarks that the regional countries should refrain from any actions aimed at destabilization of the situation.