French FM urges signing of peace deal, release of detainees

PanARMENIAN.Net - French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot stated that the agreed text of the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be signed, and Armenian detainees arbitrarily imprisoned in Baku must be released. His remarks came during a press briefing at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Armenpress reports.

"The peace agreement must finally be signed, and those arbitrarily detained and imprisoned must be freed," emphasized the French Foreign Minister.

Barrot also commented on the current tension along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, expressing concern over the rising hostilities.

He expressed hope that the European Union mission deployed in the region can be strengthened to effectively monitor the situation and help contain the tensions.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly stated that the draft peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan has already been agreed upon and is awaiting final signature. He noted that he has invited the Azerbaijani president to engage in consultations for the signing.

On March 13, Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it had accepted Azerbaijan’s proposals concerning the two previously unresolved articles of the agreement. The ministry affirmed Armenia’s readiness to begin consultations on the timing and venue for signing the peace accord. However, Baku has since introduced new preconditions and declared it is premature to discuss specific dates.