OSCE Chairperson to mediate next Armenia-Azerbaijan meetingOctober 24, 2019 - 12:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov will meet in Bratislava in the near future, with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Miroslav Lajčák set to mediate the talks, Lajčák himself said in an interview with the Voice of America. Lajčák, who is also Slovakia’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, said he appreciates the efforts of the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders aimed at reaching a settlement of the conflict. The official cited "positive signs" in dialogue between the leaders and the Foreign Ministers, as well as disturbing episodes on the line of contact that resulted in casualties. The OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger has emphasized, meanwhile, that serious progress can be made first of all in case of a political decision by heads of state. Mnatsakanyan and Mammadyarov last met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on September 24. Top stories The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. London’s Armenian community has been left feeling “under attack” after the city’s Genocide monument was vandalised. The United States believes there should be an international mission to provide transparency. Partner news | Armenia: Opposition activist transferred to Investigative Committee Activist Samvel Vardanyan has been accused of insulting the lawmaker Hakob Aslanyan from the ruling Civil Contract party. Russia confirms start of withdrawal of peacekeepers from Karabakh The Kremlin has confirmed reports about the start of the withdrawal of Russian peacekeeping forces in Karabakh. France recalls its ambassador to Azerbaijan France on April 16 said it had recalled for consultations the French ambassador to Azerbaijan. Protesters rally as Georgia debates 'foreign agent' bill Georgian critics label the bill "the Russian law", comparing it to legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent. |