Good afternoon,

I am glad to welcome Sergey Lavrov, Minister оf Foreign Minister of Russia in Yerevan. As you are aware, we meet on frequent basis, both in Yerevan, Moscow and elsewhere.

Today Mr. Lavrov is in Armenia on an official visit, he has already visited Tsitsernakaberd in the morning, paying tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The President of the Republic of Armenia would receive Mr. Lavrov soon. This visit is being paid in such conditions when the focus of the contacts between the leadership of the two states was the situation unfolded due to the aggressive military actions launched by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh, overcoming of the consequences in a broader sense, I would say.

Indeed, the most significant part of our today's discussions was focused on these issues.

From the very first minutes of the Azerbaijani offensive on April 2, I was in direct contact with Mr. Lavrov, our contacts were continuous in their nature. We also had comprehensive discussions in Moscow on April 8.

Azerbaijan's adventure seriously harmed the negotiation process. Together with Russia, and other Co-Chair countries we make attempts to secure respective conditions to bring the negotiations back to normal course through overcoming of the obstacles regularly created by Baku, reassuring and consolidating the cease-fire established by 1994-1995 agreements.

We shared the view that the use of force is unacceptable and there is no alternative to the negotiated settlement of the issue. Unequivocal condemnation of the use of force by the international community is of special importance, so that Baku does not cherish any illusions that it is able to resolve the issues through military means.

During the meeting we thoroughly discussed the process of implementation of the agreements reached by the Heads of our states. Those agreements regard political and economic agenda, as well as increase of our defense capabilities.

With Mr. Lavrov we discussed other numerous issues on the Armenian-Russian agenda, i.e. trade and economic cooperation, cooperation within integration processes. We exchanged thoughts on the activity of Armenian-Russian Inter-Governmental Committee, inter-parliamentary ties. With the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia we reflected on cooperation within CSTO, EAEU, CIS, the UN, OSCE, CoE, BSEC and other international organizations, holding of consultations between the MFAs. We touched upon pressing international and regional issues. I think, we would have an opportunity to continue our discussions during the day.
Now, I am passing the floor to Mr. Lavrov. Please.

 

 

Mediamax. I have two questions. First is to Mr. Lavrov. Mr. Lavrov, following the recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, Turkey’s high-ranking officials made apparently one-sided statements. What an impact do you think those statements could have on the process of the peaceful settlement of the issue?

Second question is to you, Mr. Nalbandian, in a few days the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Forum will be held in Baku. It’s become known that Armenia is boycotting the Forum. Do you consider the boycott and decision itself to be a right thing? Thank you.

Edward Nalbandian. Regarding the holding of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Forum in Azerbaijan, its organization in a country where Armenophobia, xenophobia, intolerance flourish raises some questions, as the Alliance of Civilizations Forum aims to protect the noblest values of civilization. How could Armenia participate in a Forum, organized in a country where those values are violated and ignored in the gravest way possible?

You are aware that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on this matter. We cannot support the consensus on Final Declaration, which supposedly was to be adopted at the Forum. There are also views that they would find some loopholes in the procedure or, break the procedure in an attempt to adopt the Declaration. But I think it will no means raise that organisation’s reputation.

I also think that, when it appeared today that many states reduced the level of participants of the Forum, one should only express hope that those who for some reasons could not reject their participation in the Forum and are attending the event, would have courage to make remarks accordingly, to criticize Armenophobia, xenophobia, intolerance, which prevails in that country, the barbaric acts which were committed just several kilometers away from the Forum, and, as the saying goes, correspondingly, the Forum will become a platform for condemning the violations of human rights and fundamental universal civilizational values in Azerbaijan. Thank you.

Armenia TV. I have а question to both Ministers. Mr. Lavrov, there have been publications in the Russian media, referring both to Kremlin and MFA of Russia, that Armenia and Azerbaijan alike rejected the Kazan Document. Please, tell whether it is true or not.

Second question to Mr. Nalbandian, Mr. Minister, views were expressed, that no one was aware of what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Minister himself were engaged with before, during and after the April war. What is your view on that? Thank you.

Edward Nalbandian. Before answering the question, I would like to say what in fact my counterpart stated, that it is not Armenia that rejected the document, Azerbaijan did. In the same manner Azerbaijan acted in Kazan, in Sochi, prior to Kazan, as I said on numerous occasions, in Moscow prior to Sochi, in Astrakhan prior to Moscow, in St. Petersberg prior to Astrakhan, etc. The list goes back to Paris 10 years ago, when Paris talks were underway. This is the reality.

Regarding the criticism, if those critics think that we’d better publicise about all the steps that the Armenian diplomacy and diplomats are undertaking, then they are far away from the essence of diplomacy or perception of our activity. I am not talking about classified or unclassified activity, rather about much more efficient work.

Had those critics visited the MFA of Armenia website, then, at least on what is published, they would find, as you said, before, during and after the events… just a day, two ago on March 30 I was in Geneva and delivered a speech at the High-level meeting on global responsibility sharing through pathways for admission of Syrian refugees, from March 31 through April 2 I joined the delegation headed by the President of Armenia in Washington, on April 3 already in Yerevan I received several delegations, including that from Knesset, on April 4 I had a meeting with Secretary General of La Francophonie and signed respective documents, from April 5 through 7 I was in Berlin with the President during the official visit, on April 8 I was already in Moscow, had a meeting with Mr. Lavrov and Mr. Bordyuzha, as well as participated in the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the CIS countries, on April 9 negotiations with the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk group were underway. Following that, a meeting with the United Nations Under Secretary General, visit to China, etc...

But also during that period of time I had nearly 4 dozen of phone conversations regarding those events, this crisis. And, as I have told, from the very first second of the aggression launched, contact was established with Mr. Lavrov, and continued also with my colleagues from other states, different international organizations. This is only on Minister’s part. Moreover, large-scale activity was carried out by our diplomats, both by the Central Apparatus of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by the Embassies.

Hence, you know what, we take very seriously the constructive criticism and study it carefully in an attempt to correct the omissions. But what you are quoting are not your words, that is what some critics are saying, which is fabricated and futile criticism.

Thank you.