24 Sep 2019 10:36

Armenia stresses need to bolster truce, ease tensions at ministerial meeting on Karabakh - Foreign Ministry

YEREVAN. Sept 24 (Interfax) - Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov have assessed the situation in the region at their meeting on Nagorno-Karabakh in New York, where the Armenian delegation also reaffirmed the need to bolster the ceasefire there and the importance of new confidence building measures, the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"During the discussion, the Armenian side reiterated the importance of further consistent efforts to bolster the ceasefire and reduce tensions, including by introducing relevant mechanisms and strengthening them. It also stressed the need to take consistent steps to build an atmosphere of trust, including through implementing earlier reached agreements," the statement said.

Mnatsakanyan additionally said during the meeting that it is necessary to ensure the return of Armenian citizens currently under arrest in Azerbaijan to their home country.

"In the context of promoting the peace process, Minister Mnatsakanyan highlighted the importance of ensuring the balance of obligations assumed by the sides within the settlement process, reaffirming Armenia's fundamental stance and approaches in this process. The sides also outlined further steps in this direction, including a visit of the [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chairs to the region and holding another meeting at the level of foreign ministers in the near future," the statement said.