Armenian FM discusses OSCE Minsk Group role in Nagorno-Karabakh settlement with French co-chair

YEREVAN. April 11 (Interfax) - Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and French Co-Chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group for settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Brice Roquefeuil met on Monday to discuss the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijani troops entered the area under the responsibility of Russian peacekeepers.

"The meeting participants declared the importance of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship's role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process under their mandate. Mirzoyan and Roquefeuil discussed the situation in the wake of Azerbaijani armed forces' incursion into the village of Parukh and adjacent areas, which are within the Russian peacekeeping contingent's area of responsibility," the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

Mirzoyan accused Azerbaijan of actions "aimed at causing humanitarian problems to the population of Artsakh [the Armenian name for Nagorno-Karabakh] and committing ethnic cleansing."

"He underscored the need for Azerbaijani troops to return to their positions as of March 23. Mirzoyan presented Armenia's position regarding the start of negotiations with Azerbaijan on a peace agreement, highlighting the Minsk Group co-chairmanship's and the co-chair countries' [Russia, France, and the United States] mediating role in this context," it said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said following negotiations with Mirzoyan on April 8 that France and the U.S. had refused to cooperate with Russia in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship.