Jonathan Lacôte: Renewed peace talks on Karabakh priority task for OSCE Minsk Group mediators

The presidents of France and Russia have agreed to renew the efforts within the OSCE Minsk Group towards achieving a stable settlement of the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), the French ambassador in Armenia has said.  

According to Jonathan Lacôte, concrete initiatives to that effect are expected in the nearest future. The diplomat made the remark in response to an inquiry by ARMENPRESS, commenting on a recent telephone conversation between Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Emmanuel Macron of France.

“The President of the Republic held a phone talk on Monday, April 26, with Russian President Vladimir Putin. For the current situation in the Caucasus, President Macron highlighted the necessity of recording specific progress on matters relating to captives, the humanitarian situation and preservation of heritage. The two Presidents agreed to resume the efforts within the Minsk Group for achieving a stable settlement of the situation. Concrete initiatives will be launched in that direction in the nearest future”, he was quoted as saying.

Mr Lacôte described renewed negotiations (aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict) as the co-chairs’ priority task, citing their April 13 statement issued in that connection.

“In their April 13 statement, the Co-Chairs called for the release of all prisoners of war and detained persons in accordance with the international humanitarian law. On April 24 Minister of State Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne received the families of captives in the French Embassy”, the ambassador said.

Mr Lacôte also commented on the opening of the so-called “Trophy Park” in Baku, which reportedly features Armenian military equipment taken as a trophy during the war, as well as dehumanizing scenes (including wax mannequins depicting dead and dying Armenians soldiers). The ambassador recalled his earlier statement warning against attempts to stage shows of war scenes and calling for a priority focus on finding a solution.