Armenia urges Azerbaijan to reject aggressive rhetoric in Karabakh talksJuly 12, 2018 - 11:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on Wednesday, July 11 stressed the importance of refraining from aggressive rhetoric in the process of the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Mnatsakanyan was meeting his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov for the first time since the change of power in Armenia. Also attending and mediating the meeting were the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs -- Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America -- as well as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk. The Armenian foreign policy chief thanked the envoys for organizing the meeting in Brussels and stressed the importance of the peace process and the need for maintaining the dynamics of negotiations. Mnatsakanyan said negotiations have no alternative, and called for an atmosphere of peace, the strengthening of mutual trust, steps to reduce tensions, maintaining the ceasefire and refraining from abusive rhetoric. According to him, the realistic and constructive involvement of all the parties is key in reaching lasting peace. Mnatsakanyan is part of the Armenian delegation currently participating in the NATO Summit of July 11-12 in the Belgian capital. 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 | Turkey extends military presence in Azerbaijan The Turkish parliament has adopted a bill submitted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extend the mandate of Turkish troops. Russia to begin assessing migrant workers' speaking skills Rosobrnadzor is planning to change the Russian language exam for migrant workers and include an assessment of speaking skills Armenian, Saudi Foreign Minister meet in Riyadh The two commended the positive dynamics of the development of political dialogue between Armenia and Saudi Arabia Pashinyan: Azerbaijan’s proximity shouldn’t worry border residents At the same time, he said that he “does not guarantee [the security of villagers] one hundred percent”. |