Further consultations on Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization due in Brussels, Yerevan, Baku - Belgian FM

YEREVAN. Aug 22 (Interfax) - Further consultations on the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations are due to be held in Brussels, Yerevan and Baku, Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said.

"The only way to solve the problem [between Armenia and Azerbaijan] is through talks and compromises, no matter how difficult that might be. The latest talks in Brussels [held by the Armenian prime minister, the Azerbaijani president and the European Council president on July 15] showed that the peace agreement is near," Lahbib said at a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan on Tuesday.

"Further consultations are due to be held in Brussels, as well as in Yerevan and Baku. I hope they will lead to a historic turn. You can count on the European Union along the way," she said.

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan "should do everything to ensure that the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples live in peace. I plan to say the same to my colleague in Azerbaijan later this week," Lahbib said.

In turn, Mirzoyan said that Yerevan did not discriminate between various mediation efforts but was interested in the fulfillment of agreements.

"Armenia is interested in impartial mediation, and we highly appreciate every effort to this end. Numerous important meetings have been held in Brussels with the mediation of European Council President Charles Michel. I have met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Washington with the mediation of Secretary of State [Antony] Blinken. There have been meetings in Moscow, too. The implementation of agreements reached on every platform is important to us," he said.

For instance, Azerbaijan has not declared the recognition of Armenia's territorial integrity "although such statements were made at private meetings," Mirzoyan said.

"This can prove that Azerbaijan has territorial claims to Armenia. We are expecting all mediators to monitor the fulfillment of agreements," he said.