Baku committed to negotiations with Yerevan - Azerbaijani FM
BAKU. Feb 22 (Interfax) - Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has called on Armenia to return to the negotiating table.
"Armenia should abandon its destructive position and return to the negotiating table. Despite Armenia's refusal to take part in negotiations on a peace treaty in December and obstacles being put by Yerevan, Azerbaijan remains committed to the negotiating process," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry quoted Bayramov as saying at a meeting with United Kingdom Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe Leo Docherty in Baku on Wednesday.
The parties discussed ways to normalize relations between Baku and Yerevan, the current condition of negotiations on a peace treaty, and the situation surrounding the Lachin road, it said.
Bayramov informed Docherty of steps Azerbaijan has been taking to normalize relations with Armenia and described claims about "a humanitarian crisis" in the region as unfounded, it said.
Bayramov and Docherty also discussed the current state of the relationship between Azerbaijan and the UK, prospects of continued cooperation in various fields, and the situation in the region.
"Apart from that, they exchanged opinions on prospects of cooperation in the oil and gas sector and in the investments, trade, transport, green energy, education, and humanitarian fields," the Foreign Ministry said.
Bayramov welcomed the work of UK companies in Azerbaijan and praised the UK's contribution to the demining of Karabakh and East Zangezur and its desire to be actively involved in rebuilding those territories.
He also "underscored the importance of continued development of successful cooperation between our countries in the education field," it said.
Docherty assured Bayramov that the UK is interested in developing cooperation with Azerbaijan, highlighted the importance of overcoming issues obstructing peace in the region, and said London was willing to provide support in that, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.