Skopje, 13 April 2023 (MIA) – The status of the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the related humanitarian issues, as well as cooperation with OSCE over the support for the country’s reform agenda were in the focus of talks between Minister of Foreign Affairs and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Bujar Osmani and the Prime Minister and President of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan and Vahagn Khachaturyan, held on Thursday.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Osmani and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke about Yerevan’s position, especially when it comes to security issues.

Osmani said that OSCE, as Armenia’s long-term international partner, will contribute to the promotion of peace prospects.

“I assure you that the goal of my meeting is to provide support for peace and stability, especially since a comprehensive and sustainable solution has not yet been reached between Yerevan and Baku,” said Osmani at the meeting.

He also stressed Armenia’s successful cooperation with OSCE thus far, underscoring additional opportunities for further deepening of cooperation. Additionally, he requested the support of Pashinyan for a completely operative and functional Organization with the goal of developing activities that will lead to a comprehensive peace deal.

“OSCE has been actively cooperating with Armenia on a broad spectrum of initiatives in the past five years as part of the ‘Armenia Cooperation Programme’, and you have my full political support for additional activities that will assist people impacted by conflict,” said Osmani.

The MFA said that the current topics concerning a solution for the long-standing issues and normalization of relations between all countries were the topics of discussion at Osmani’s meeting with Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan.

Osmani told the Armenian President that efforts to build peace and trust are of exceptional importance for everyone.

“I believe that all sides support a comprehensive and permanent peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as in the overall South Caucasus region. We are aware that reaching a solution is a very difficult challenge, but the most important thing is to look to the future. The past, regardless how painful and difficult it is, will not lead to a solution,” said Chairperson Osmani.

At the meeting with the Armenian President, Osmani also spoke about the support of OSCE as a platform for finding a complete and comprehensive solution for the normalization of relations between the two countries, stressing that North Macedonia, as OSCE Chair, can contribute to building peace and the stabilization of relations.

“I was interested to find out more about the status of the discussions on peace prospects. It is important that all sides are engaged in calming tensions, and we will continue to firmly support the initiatives that aim to bring about peace,” said Osmani.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the two meetings with Armenia’s top officials were aimed at finding solutions for the fragile security situation on the ground, but also expressing OSCE’s support in dealing with internal and external challenges related to the three security dimensions that are a part of the Organization’s work.