Briefing with journalists by Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan during the 27th annual joint meeting of the Board of Trustees and local bodies of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Question: Minister, do you consider it possible actually bringing Stepanakert back to the table of negotiations?
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: I will confine myself to noting that currently our ultimate goal is to re-engage in negotiations, exclusively within the framework of the Minsk Group co-chairmanship.
Question: Trump, while congratulating Aliyev, noted that the coming months could be an opportunity for the settlement of the conflict.
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: All of us hope that the settlement will happen very soon, but the settlement should reflect our interests, our aspirations, our goals. We are, certainly, talking about a compromise, but at the heart of it is, first of all, the expression of our interests and goals. I would repeat, the basis is the right of the people of Artsakh to a free self-determination and the security of the people of Artsakh.
Question: Do you see any tendencies?
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: As I noted, currently the most important issue is to maintain the dynamics of negotiations. You know that we are constantly in contact with the Co-Chairs and there will be new occasions, as it has been this week, at the end of the week and it will be at the beginning of the next week. We have already had a phone conversation with the Foreign Minister of Russia. Other contacts will also take place. Foreign Minister of France will arrive to Armenia, as well as a representative of the United States.
Question: Minister, is it possible to have a regional visit of the Co-Chairs, as well as your meeting with Mammadyarov in the
nearest future?
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: This is not a question of possibility, this is the essence of negotiations.
Question: In other words, such meeting is expected in the near future – yours with Mammadyarov, as well as meeting between Pashinyan and Aliev?
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: This is a process that fits in the negotiation format.
Question: Can you specify any dates, Minister?
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Not yet.
Question: And is there a Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting on the agenda?
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Not yet:
Question: Minister, are you going to give a new impetus to the relations of Armenia with the European Union? You are known for your great efforts with regards the document…
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: We have already registered a considerable progress, we have reached an important milestone. The importance is now attached to the implementation of the provisions of that document. From June 1, we move to the so-called “temporary” application that already provides the opportunity to start the implementation of the document, to start fulfilling and, to create, to the extent possible, the expression of its implementation.
