Dushanbe must become Dushanbe plus: Mnatsakanyan says reality shows parties sometimes choose wrong path

Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan discussed in Washington a wide range of issues, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan told the reporters today at a joint news conference with foreign and trade promotion minister of Malta Carmelo Abela.

Referring to the interview Mammadyarov gave to an Azerbaijani news agency, Mnatsakanyan said in it he refers to some issues relating to the meeting of two foreign ministers in Washington.

“I may say that we have discussed a wide-range of issues formed throughout the talks before the Washington meeting. The peculiarity was that the meeting took place ahead of growth of tension. Naturally, we referred to this reality as well,” the minister said.

Mnatsakanyan said that all the issues necessary for reduction of tension and prevention of further escalation were discussed.

“We need to return to the situation existing before the escalation. It will be of great significance,” the minister said.

He said the co-chairs came up with some initiatives.

“I think we may reach a situation to register peace-promoting atmosphere ahead of the next meeting,” Mnatsakanyan said, adding that it is one of the priorities of Armenia.

“One of its elements is continue working toward reduction of risks of escalation. We had a situation maintained on the basis of Dushanbe arrangements and it remains a priority for us,” Armenia’s minister said.

“Dushanbe must become Dushanbe plus, as the situation and the tension showed that we may follow in a completely wrong way. In conditions of having victims and ceasefire violations naturally the significance of functions like the mechanism of investigation of cases of ceasefire violations is being stressed,” Mnatsakanyan said.