Pashinyan: Armenia ready to pull back forces at any time

PanARMENIAN.Net - Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Saturday, May 29 that Armenia is ready to pull back forces from near the border at any time and expects the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to reach a similar agreement with Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan made the remarks at a meeting with supporters in Yerevan. According to him, the sides would thus withdraw troops from the area between Sotk in Gegharkunik province and the village of Khoznavar in Syunik province, where tensions prevail.

The acting PM also noted that the Armenian side is ready to fully resume the negotiation process within the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship to settle the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He also welcomed a recent statement from the co-chairs who, among other things, called on Azerbaijan to return the six servicemen captured recently.

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 in Azerbaijan’s shooting on May 25, while six others were captured on May 27.