YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. During a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Yerevan on Tuesday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called for firm support from the international community, including NATO, for the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on known and mutually agreed-upon principles. He also emphasized the unequivocal rejection of the policy of coercion and threats.

"I presented to Mr. Stoltenberg the vision and approaches of the Government of the Republic of Armenia to establishing stability and peace in the South Caucasus.

 I reaffirm my repeatedly voiced willingness to normalize relations with Azerbaijan based on the 3 principles agreed at the highest level, namely, recognition of each other's territorial integrity based on the Alma-Ata Declaration, the delimitation of the Armenia-Azerbaijan interstate border according to the Alma-Ata Declaration for restoring the border that existed at the time of the collapse of the USSR in 1991 between the two republics, as well as the unblocking of regional infrastructures, respecting the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries they pass through, based on the principles of equality and reciprocity. Regarding the latter, I have also presented the "Crossroads of Peace" project, which summarizes our ideas on the issue.

We expect the firm support of the international community, including NATO, for the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on known and mutually agreed upon principles, as well as the unequivocal rejection of the policy of coercion and threats.

I also presented to the General Secretary the proposals for a simultaneous withdrawal of troops from the Armenia-Azerbaijan border of 1991, mutual arms control, and the signing of a non-aggression pact, which have not received a positive response from official Baku to date.

We are also committed to the agenda of normalizing relations with Turkey. We believe that the implementation of the agreements reached with Turkey in 2022, which were subsequently reaffirmed, may have a positive impact on the establishment of stability in the South Caucasus region,'' Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister noted that during the conversation with the General Secretary, they also had the opportunity to discuss the reform agenda of the Armed Forces of Armenia.

"I emphasized that this process is not directed against any state and is aimed at increasing the defense capabilities of the Armed Forces of Armenia in order to ensure the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia,'' The PM said.