France convinced Baku should return Armenian prisoners of war

France convinced Baku should return Armenian prisoners of war

PanARMENIAN.Net - French Ambassador to Armenia Jonathan Lacôte is convinced that the Armenian prisoners of war must be returned from Azerbaijan.

Lacôte said on Wednesday, March 17 that his approach over the matter is clear and concrete – the captives must be returned. According to him, the repatriation should be arranged not only based on the trilateral statement on ending the war in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), but also on international conventions, Armenpress reports.

The ambassador told reporters in Yerevan that the OSCE Minsk Group remains the only body where negotiations are possible in terms of reaching a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

“When we talk about the OSCE Minsk Group, we must understand that we are dealing with a structure which ensures negotiations and is ready to mediate and help both sides. The Swedish Foreign Minister [who also serves as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office] has also mentioned the OSCE Minsk Group as the only mediation body during her visit to Armenia. The Minsk Group Co-Chairs are currently in negotiations in order to pay a working visit to the region”, Lacôte added.

Following a meeting with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde in Yerevan on Tuesday, Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian said a final political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is possible only within the framework of a "strong OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship".

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