YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov held a meeting on September 23rd in New York City, the foreign ministry said in a news release.

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the meeting.

“The interlocutors discussed a range of issues related to the Nagorno Karabakh peace process and assessed the current situation. The Armenian FM highly appreciated the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

During the discussion the Armenian side attached importance to continuous efforts in the direction of strengthening the ceasefire and decreasing tension, including through the introduction and strengthening of relevant mechanisms.

The need for coherent steps in the direction of developing an atmosphere of trust was also emphasized including through the implementation of previously reached agreements.

In regard to the Armenian citizens in custody in Azerbaijani territory, the Armenian side emphasized the necessity for securing the latter’s repatriation.

In terms of advancing the peace process minister Mnatsakanyan attached importance to ensuring the proportionality of commitments assumed by the sides within the framework of the settlement by reiterating Armenia’s principled stance and approaches in the process.

The sides outlined future steps in this direction, including the co-chairs’ regional visit and organizing another foreign ministerial level meeting soon,” reads the press release.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan