Question: How did you start your day today? And, in general, what is the symbolism of this day?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: I started my day as usual - with work and coming here to celebrate together the Citizen’s Day. And I already had an opportunity to say what the Citizen’s Day means. The citizen is the heart of the country, the country begins with a citizen. Under proper conditions, with his/her actions, capacities and opportunities the citizen can demonstrate everything needed to create a welfare. For me, this is the most substantial message. A citizen, who is engaged in the process of building his/her life, society, community and country, the responsible, capable, self-confident citizen.

Question: Recently the Prime Minister recently stated that the citizen, the society not him should be the decision-maker in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. How do you see that?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: I see it in this very discussion. In your questions, in the fact that I am in a regular dialogue with you, in a dialogue with the society through media, when we discuss all this with our expert community and within other various formats. It is the people, who has given the mandate to the Government and the Government bears responsibility and performs its functions: the Government bears full responsibility, but the implementation of that responsibility is based on the mandate. And this dialogue, your questions, when I engage in a dialogue within all other formats, when you criticize me, agree or disagree with me - all these are a test for that very mandate. Within that very madate we exercise our responsibility, our obligation to tackle every issue, and in this particular case the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

Question: Mr. Mnatsakanyan, the Azerbaijani media wrote that your meeting with Mr. Mammadyarov is being prepared. What can you say about it?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: I'm sure you watched my interview which I gave two days ago, in which I said that such meeting should be held as the process should be continuous. Meetings at different levels were held, including in the capitals of the Co-Chair countries. We have had relevant discussions, outlined the next step - how it will be held, where it will be held. However, the hosting party must decide for itself, clarify the location and the date. And then, after the hosting party extends invitation, we can announce it in an agreed way. I said during the interview and I would repeat here: if I tell you I’m coming to your place tonight without your invitation, you are going to be surprised, aren’t you? Let the host country say, then we will decide.

Question: Is Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting expected?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Let's not talk about it yet because the Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting was held on March 29, within which a range of agreements and guiding agreements were reached. And During the Moscow meeting at Foreign Ministers’ level we worked on that very basis. And now it is very important for us to deliver on the steps within the framework of the agreements reached as well as to outline the next steps. Naturally, if this is a peace process, the meetings between the leaders should also be held at some point.

Question: The speaker of the parliament of Azerbaijan used the word "peace" and the Armenian media was flooded with rumors about the calls for peace being voiced from there. But then the correct translation appeared in media, and it turned out that he did just the opposite by making a more ironic statement.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: I feel sorry for him, if that's the case. I mean, we have enough confidence, I`d like to repeat that this society, with its strength, with its citizens and public debate is confident that we have that capability, that patriotism, that power to defend, to protect and ensure the security of Nagorno Karabakh. I think there is no doubt in it. It gives us strength to speak in the language of peace, because, yes, peace, self-confidence, gives the opportunity…

Question: Do you consider it as their weakness?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: I feel sorry about it. I haven't seen the translation, so I'll be more careful in my comments. The Prime Minister repeatedly stated that we can do it and it should be reciprocal. If we intend to prepare the population for peace but that function is not being realized at the highest level, then it is concerning. But I would not comment on the specific case you mentioned: the way it was originally said and translated.

Question: Mr. Mnatsakanyan, yesterday the media reported that the Armenian side proposed amendments to the CSTO Charter, after which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a statement, but was there actually a need?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: No proposal of amendments to the Charter has been made, the Charter will not be amended.

Question: A clarifying question - is there a progress concerning the аrrangements reached about the detainees?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: It is a bit early for being more precise, some clarifications are needed and we have to work together.

Question: Is Putin’s visit scheduled this year?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Yes.

Question: Former State Minister of Artsakh was speaking about the joint utilization of the Sarsang reservoir and in exchange, opening an air space. Did you receive any response from the Azerbaijani side and do you consider it realistic?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Now we have some steps to implement that are expressed in the Moscow statement. Naturally, we are ready to discuss any action aimed at confidence-building.