Is there an OSCE Minsk Group or not? Where is the key to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict? Touching upon these issues, as well as the statements made by Azerbaijan and Russia in this regard, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reminded that on April 19, 2021, he visited Russia, as a result of which a joint statement was signed with the President of the Russian Federation.
“What is written in its 24th point? It is written that we must cooperate on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, we must use the potential of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing in accordance with its international mandate. This is the official position of Russia, which is recorded on paper. I think that this contradiction should be clarified, although there is nothing to clarify, because a joint statement was adopted, before that the Russian Foreign Minister was in Armenia. In fact, the format of work on our issue is registered at the level of the leaders of Armenia and Russia,” he said.
Armenia’s Prime Minister noted that there are three countries co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group, all three of which have reaffirmed their commitment, Russia in the format of a joint statement, France and the USA have stated about it several times. Nikol Pashinyan stressed that the OSCE Minsk Group did not announce its non-existence.
“Initially there was a chairman, then a co-chair, then a co-chairs. It is a process that took place within the mandate given by the UN Security Council. No one has canceled those documents,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that it is not a question of a debate between the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, he says that they have registered with the Co-Chairs that there is a Minsk Group, there is an international mandate of the Minsk Group. And who is arguing with it and with whom is another matter.