Pashinyan: Situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is quite tense

PanARMENIAN.Net - The situation in Armenia's border regions is quite tense amid Azerbaijan's provocations and encroachment on the territory of Armenia, acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Yerevan on Wednesday, May 26.

On the morning of May 12, the armed forces of Azerbaijan violated the border of Armenia in the southern province of Syunik, advancing 3.5 kilometers and surrounding Sev Lake, which is situated on the border between the two countries but is predominantly a part of Armenia. On May 13, the Azerbaijani military committed more border violations against Armenia, advancing near Vardenis (Gegharkunik province) and Sisian (Syunik province). One Armenian serviceman was killed n Azerbaijan’s shooting on Tuesday, May 25.

Pashinyan said the Azerbaijani military has illegally violated the state border in several sections but Armenia's position is unchanged: "The units of the Azerbaijani armed forces must leave our territories."

"And we are making political-diplomatic efforts, including because our partners in the Collective Security Treaty Organization have been urging us from the very first days to try to resolve the issue first of all through diplomatic and political means," Pashinyan told Zarif.

"This meeting is a good opportunity to learn more about the views of the Islamic Republic of Iran on overcoming the situation."

Zarif, in turn, expressed condolences over the killing of an Armenian serviceman as a result of tensions on the border.

"Yesterday I had a very detailed and meaningful conversation with the President of Azerbaijan. I hope that our meeting today, like the one I had with my esteemed colleague, will help resolve this crisis," Zarif said.