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 David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. 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. Partner news | Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. EU still discussing funding Armenia through European Peace Facility Discussions continue in the EU on providing Armenia with funds from the European Peace Facility, Vassilis Maragos says. Greek-Armenian organizations support "Tavush for Motherland" Greek-Armenian organizations have expressed support for the campaign led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. |