Defense Minister advises Azerbaijan against frontline shelling

PanARMENIAN.Net - Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan advised Azerbaijan to stop the frontline shelling to enable progress in Karabakh settlement, Armenian media reported.

In a conversation with journalists at the National Assembly the official spoke of recent escalation at the line of contact and the Armenian-Azeri border.

During parliamentary hearing on the defense budget planning, the official noted that the Ministry-implemented military reforms are not imitational in nature. He further spoke for the involvement of the parliament and society in the decision-making.

Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Igor Popov, Pierre Andre and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk.

At the meeting, the parties discussed the Karabakh conflict settlement and preparations for the Paris meeting of Armenian and Azeri leaders later this month.

Nalbandian further spoke about increased Azeri ceasefire violations ahead of the meeting, in the usual Baku tradition.

The Minister further slammed Azerbaijan's non-constructive approach to peace talks as well as constant attempts to undermine the settlement. In this context the Foreign Minister mentioned the recent Azeri statement on the "readiness to start talks at expert level", with the latters including aspects Baku alone could benefit from, thus demonstrating its non-serious approach ahead of the Paris meeting. .