FM says risk of escalation is always there

The risk of escalation is always there, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at a press conference today.

“At least the rhetoric we witnessed in Azerbaijani President’s latest interview does not allow us to let our guard down for even a second,” Mirzoyan said.

“We heard overt claims on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia. We saw the whole of the Republic of Armenia being called ‘Western Azerbaijan.’ So, the risk of escalation is always there, and it would be rational to think that the risk could increase during elections expected in different countries,” the Foreign Minister added.

Mirzoyan pointed to the issue of delimitation, where the Azerbaijani President is insisting on “drawing of new borders,” to territorial claims on Armenia, and to the statement that Azerbaijani forces will not withdraw from the occupied territories of Armenia.

However, he stressed that Armenia remains committed to the peace process and hopes Azerbaijan will return to a constructive approach.

Mirzoyan noted that for now there are no agreements on meetings between the leaders or foreign ministers of the two countries.