According to a report from the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on July 18, the Armenian FM, Ararat Mirzoyan, held a meeting in Vienna with Helga Schmid, the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

During the meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan provided a detailed overview of the security situation in the South Caucasus region. He also discussed the latest advancements in normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In expressing Armenia’s perspective on achieving comprehensive stability in the region, Minister Mirzoyan emphasized that Azerbaijan should not act unilaterally. He underscored the importance of addressing the rights and security concerns of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh within an international framework.

The meeting further emphasized the importance of utilizing the mechanisms and tools also available within the OSCE.

Meanwhile, during Mirzoyan’s working visit to Austria, a meeting was held with Alexander Schallenberg, the Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs.

Following their meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan and Alexander Schallenberg signed the Protocol on the implementation of the Armenia-EU readmission agreement between Armenia and Austria. Subsequently, they conducted a joint press conference. 

During the joint press conference, Armenian FM expressed his gratitude to his colleague for suggesting Vienna as a venue for the Armenian-Turkish normalization process. He acknowledged that representatives from both sides have already had several meetings in Vienna to discuss the normalization process, and he expressed hope that these discussions would continue in the future.

Mirzoyan also made it clear that Armenia would not serve as a platform for bypassing sanctions. He addressed concerns raised by a question regarding re-exporting used cars to Russia through Armenia, as reported in the Financial Times. Minister Mirzoyan emphasized that Armenia is committed to upholding international sanctions and would not engage in any activities that circumvent them.

Response from Azerbaijan

On July 19, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported that on July 18, 2023, during a press conference with the Federal Minister of European and International Affairs of Austria Alexander Schallenberg, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan once again accused Azerbaijan of “several baseless claims” and said that it is not interested in peace and stability in the region.

"The fact that instead of respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia obstructed the peace process with various claims citing the 'rights and security' of the Armenians living in Karabakh, which was occupied for nearly 30 years and carried out ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis, indicates the true intentions of the Armenian officials. It is unacceptable to mean the rights of Armenian residents only and to ignore the rights and safety of Azerbaijani residents expelled from these lands," the report added.

"Allegations of a tense humanitarian situation in the region are Armenia's political adventure and manipulation. Opposition to the transportation of goods through the Aghdam-Khankendi road proposed by Azerbaijan is an example of the lack of basis for these claims. The distortion by Armenia of the decision of the International Court of Justice of July 6, 2023, on the unanimous rejection of Armenia's demand for the elimination of the Lachin launch site, as well as military provocation against the site and smuggling attempts, are indicators of Armenia's lack of intention to comply with international norms and principles," it said.