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YEREVAN, JULY 27, ARMENPRESS. Yesterday, during the trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan in Moscow, the issue of the return of Azerbaijanis to Armenia was not discussed with the minister of foreign affairs of Armenia. Edmon Marukyan, Ambassador-at-large of Armenia, said in an interview with Public TV, referring to the statement of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after the tripartite meeting that Armenia and Azerbaijan are ready to provide guarantees to those who want to return.
"I must say that the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia does not correspond to the subject discussed, because no such issue was discussed with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia had bilateral meetings with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan, then a tripartite meeting was held, after which, in my opinion, he tried to make such a statement that would also include the narrative that Azerbaijan wanted. I think that it would be good if the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia referred to point 7 of the November 9 declaration, which was also signed by the President of Russia. For example, did the internally displaced return or did they not return? Has the commitment in this issue been fulfilled or not?" said Marukyan, assuring that Armenia is not negotiating on the issue of the return of Azerbaijanis, there is no such topic on the negotiation table, it is just propaganda spread by Azerbaijan.
According to him, if they reach the point that Azerbaijan will fulfill its commitment regarding the return of the internally displaced persons in line with the November 9 document, then a conversation can be opened about the return of Azerbaijanis, if Azerbaijan wishes. Marukyan also emphasized that Armenia has not undertaken any obligation regarding the return of Azerbaijanis, while Azerbaijan has an obligation to ensure the return of internally displaced persons from Nagorno Karabakh and neighboring regions. "When they fulfill their obligation, and if they want to talk about it, that conversation will be opened. And what is that conversation about? They say that Azerbaijanis left Armenia. But Armenians also left Azerbaijan. The Armenians left under threats of murder, terrorism, burning their houses and became refugees, while the Azerbaijanis left Armenia by receiving compensation for their houses," he said.