France convinced Baku should return Armenian prisoners of warMarch 17, 2021 - 18:50 AMT 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". Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Russia clarifying reports on Baku’s alleged arms supply to Ukraine Russia says is carefully working to verify reports about alleged arms supplies from Azerbaijan to Ukraine Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. |