YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan is the first responsible side for maintaining the status quo in the frames of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. It aggravates the situation and does not respond to the calls of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in the meeting with reporters on February 9 answering to the remark whether “Azerbaijani Foreign Minister already mocks Minsk Group co-chairs in his statements, says he will not meet with them as there is no sense in it and blames Armenia for stubbornly keeping the status quo. According to Armenian FM, Armenia and Minsk Group are interested in changing the status quo but Azerbaijan contributes to the maintenance of the status quo.

“The first responsible side is Azerbaijan that the status quo is maintained, because the status quo can be changed as a result of reaching agreements through negotiations. Who is against the creation of the investigation mechanism? – Azerbaijan. They invented that if the mechanism is set up, it will contribute to the preservation of the status quo. On the contrary, if the mechanism is established, it will create more favorable conditions for the continuation of negotiations aimed at the settlement of the conflict,” Armenian FM mentioned expressing a hope that Azerbaijan will change its destructive path and Armenia will continue its efforts over exclusively peaceful settlement of the issue.

And what refers to the mockery towards the Minsk group co-chairs, Edward Nalbandian noticed it is not a single step from by official Baku. “Baku repeatedly uses improper statements against co-chairs and all those who dare to express an opinion that does not match their official opinion,” Armenian FM said.

According to the Minister, Azerbaijan blackmails them and tries to get some benefits which, however, bring to a negative impact against Azerbaijan.