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FM: Russia welcomes possible meeting of Azerbaijani, Armenian FMs

22 November 2018 16:36 (UTC+04:00)
FM: Russia welcomes possible meeting of Azerbaijani, Armenian FMs

By Abdul Kerimkhanov

Russia welcomes the possible meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia at the OSCE Ministerial Meeting in Milan on December 6-7, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a press conference on November 22.

She said Russia would welcome another round of such a meeting if the parties agree to hold it. But it is the sovereign right of every state to decide on holding such meetings. If such a meeting takes place, and it will be constructive, it can only be welcomed,” the spokeswoman stressed.

Zakharova also commented on the refusal of Armenia to exchange prisoners with Azerbaijan on the principle of "all for all".

“We welcome any agreements that are in line with the main task of resolving the conflict. But the agreement involves consent and work to achieve this agreement. Therefore, Azerbaijan’s initiative is remarkable, but it needs to be worked out in order for it to turn into agreements,” concluded Zakharova.

The 25th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the countries participating in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE Ministerial Council) will be held under the Italian chairmanship in Milan on December 6-7, 2018. Аcting Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan will also be present at the meeting.

Commenting on the question whether the meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan will take place, the head of the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry Anna Naghdalyan said similar proposal was made by the mediators. When the possibility of the meeting will be clarified, we will inform you, he concluded.

It is clear why official Yerevan is quite cautious in the comments on the prospects for holding a meeting of the heads of the two foreign ministries. The sooner it is said directly about holding the meeting, the longer it will take another reason for Pashinyan’s opponents to use it to criticize the acting Prime Minister.

As the voting day approaches, Nikol Pashinyan and his opponents will make increasingly harsh statements on Karabakh. This means that the possible meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in early December will be held against a rather problematic background.

It is impossible to completely exclude that meeting will eventually be postponed. And if it takes place, then a sharper rhetoric can be expected from the official Yerevan on the eve and on the results of its holding.

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