Friday, November 20 2015 08:50

Russia is a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group for resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Armenia highly appreciates efforts of Moscow and other mediators. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian made such statement in an interview with a local Aravot Daily when commenting on media reports about secret talks launched by Russia for ceding some regions around Karabakh to Azerbaijan. 

"I do not comment on the rumors far from reality. A known saying comes to mind: 'you heard the song but got it wrong.' At the joint news conference with Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov we specified the issues and fields on agenda of the talks, and the Karabakh peace process was among them," Nalbandian said.

The minister recalled that he meets with his Russian opposite number for about a dozen times per year in both bilateral and multilateral formats, which he called quite natural given the two countries allied and strategic relations. Nalbandian said media can report that the Karabakh conflict was discussed every time the two ministers meet and it will be true. "This issue is always on agenda of our talks, except for some cases, indeed," the minister said.

He called it natural. "Another matter when media ascribe false elements to these discussions referring to the so-called sources close to the talks. I would not take such reports seriously. It is hard to imagine the sources of information, as these are high-level talks in a very narrow format. Generally, I would recommend media to refer to official sources when reporting such delicate issues," the minister said. He recalled that the OSCE MG co-chairs had made five statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - a comprehensive statement on the principles and elements the peace process must be based on.  Edward Nalbanduian said that the media reports differ from the mediators' approaches to the peace process. "What do you think is more feasible: the statements published on behalf of the presidents or rumors published by Mass Media?" the minister said and added that no issue concerning the Karabakh conflict can be settled without the consent of the people of Artsakh. 

Earlier, there were media reports claiming that during his visit to Yerevan on November 9, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had allegedly urged a return of some territories to Azerbaijan to get Baku's agreement to join the Eurasian Economic Union.