On January 20, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan spoke with "Armenpress" news agency on recent developments in the South Caucasus, the Press Office of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.

Regarding negotiations with Azerbaijan, Mirzoyan stated, "Armenia has never stopped the negotiations on the peace treaty with Azerbaijan. Regardless of the Azerbaijani illegal actions in the Lachin Corridor and the delay of the Moscow meeting, we conveyed our new proposals and their rationale for the draft agreement to the Azerbaijani side more than a month ago, but we have not yet received a response. So, the ball is now in Azerbaijan's court."

He added about the protest along the Lachin corridor: "I would like to note that the Azerbaijani side seems to be confused in its discourse about the blockade of the Lachin Corridor. Azerbaijan often insists that the corridor is not blocked, then says that the corridor is blocked for environmental reasons, and when it was announced that the exploitation of the mine in question had ceased, people claiming to be "eco-activists" demanded inspections of Red Cross vehicles and humanitarian cargo passing through the corridor. Then, they broke into the vehicle transporting children back home to Nagorno-Karabakh accompanied by Russian peacekeepers and subjected them to psychological terror. Now, these actions are justified by the fictitious transfer of military mines."

On the mediation of Georgia, he said, "Armenia is greatly interested in the development of trilateral dialogue between the countries of the South Caucasus. We consider the possible platform of Tbilisi from the perspective of regional trilateral discussions rather than Armenia-Azerbaijan bilateral meetings. Now there is an idea of a meeting between the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia and the President of Azerbaijan."

Talking about the unblocking of transport and economic infrastructure, Mirzoyan emphasized: "Armenia is definitely interested both in the full unblocking of transport and economic infrastructure in the region, by the principles stipulated in the Trilateral Statements of November 9, 2020, and January 11, 2021, and also in being part of larger transport projects. You are probably aware that the "Armenian Intersection" project was put forward by the Government of Armenia, which combines North-South and East-West mechanisms. Our proposals for the opening of regional communications are still standing, and we can implement them at any time within the framework of the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries over the transport routes and the observance of national legislation. In essence, the only and main obstacle here is the groundless demand of Azerbaijan for the extraterritorial corridor."

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry responds

On the same day, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that the claims by Ararat Mirzoyan were completely baseless and unacceptable.

"The claims that Armenia did not disrupt the negotiations is hypocrisy since it was the Armenian Foreign Minister, who refused to participate in the third meeting with the Azerbaijani side scheduled in Moscow, as a continuation of Geneva and Washington meetings, and thus spoiled the process," the ministry added.

"The claims that Armenia did not disrupt the negotiations is hypocrisy since it was the Armenian Foreign Minister, who refused to participate in the third meeting with the Azerbaijani side scheduled in Moscow, as a continuation of Geneva and Washington meetings, and thus spoiled the process," the information stated.

The ministry emphasized, "At the same time, it is well-known to Foreign Minister Mirzoyan how the planned meeting in Tbilisi between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia was obstructed by all efforts and that Armenia since the beginning of December has not yet responded to the proposals to the draft statement of such a possible meeting, presented by Azerbaijan as a sign of constructive approach."