17:34, 29 May 2021

Armenia declares its readiness to withdraw troops from Azerbaijani border

Border village of Norabak. Screenshot: Sputnik Armenia, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G05pSwTXErU

Armenian militaries can be withdrawn from the Azerbaijani border at any moment, provided the simultaneous withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops, Nikol Pashinyan, the Acting Prime Minister of Armenia, has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that earlier Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia and Azerbaijan should simultaneously withdraw their troops from the border and allow international observers to come there.

In mid-May, the Armenian-Azerbaijani border conflict escalated. On May 13, Yerevan stated that Azerbaijani militaries entered the territory of the Syunik and Gegarkunik Regions of Armenia. In their turn, Azerbaijani authorities claim that the border guards only changed their deployment, staying within the Lachin and Kelbadjar Districts of Azerbaijan.

Armenia is ready to withdraw its troops from the border with Azerbaijan, Nikol Pashinyan said. "We are ready at any time to begin the withdrawal of troops, and we are waiting for the OSCE Minsk Group mediators to reach an agreement with Azerbaijan, and at the same time to begin the withdrawal of its troops from the section from the Sotk area (Gegarkunik Region in Eastern Armenia, – note of the "Caucasian Knot") up to Khoznavar (Syunik Region in Southern Armenia, – note of the "Caucasian Knot")," the "News-Armenia" Agency has quoted Mr Pashinyan as saying today.

The Armenian party is also ready to begin, under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, clarifying the border points with Azerbaijan and continue negotiations on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the "Arka.am" has quoted Nikol Pashinyan as saying today.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 29, 2021 at 01:42 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.