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Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan has described Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev’s recent statement as not conducive to peace, while emphasizing that an exchange of sharp statements could negatively affect efforts to consolidate peace.
During a parliamentary debate, opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan, secretary of the Strong Armenia faction, referred to Hajiyev’s statement that “Armenia and Armenian society should apologize to Azerbaijan.” He asked FM Mirzoyan why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade had not responded to the statement and to what extent such rhetoric contributes to the peace process.
Mirzoyan responded that the government, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, is building peace while being aware of the difficulties and obstacles along the way. According to him, the Armenian side is trying to consolidate peace and avoid returning to the logic of past confrontation.
“Mr. Abrahamyan, I assure you that I know so many bombastic and patriotic words, so many passionate words. The question is this: would doing that contribute? You have now brought up an example that does not contribute. Of course, it does not contribute,” Mirzoyan said.
The minister added that a sharper response could be followed by an even sharper reaction from the other side, leading the parties down a path of negative developments.
The lawmaker’s follow-up question concerned whether such a statement could later become another precondition for signing the initialed peace treaty.
In his response, FM Mirzoyan addressed the consequences of the conflict and the pain experienced by both societies, emphasizing the need to move into a phase of peace and cooperation.
“The wounds are very fresh, the conflict has only recently ended, there have been casualties and bloodshed on this side, and there have been casualties and bloodshed on that side. But this conflict must be brought to an end, and we must enter a phase of peace and cooperation. We will benefit from that, and they will benefit from that,” the minister noted.