On March 24, Paruyr Hovhannisyan, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia, addressed several topics during his briefings, highlighting challenges in negotiations with Azerbaijan, the European Union, and the international community.

Speaking with journalists in the National Assembly, Hovhannisyan discussed ongoing peace negotiations with Azerbaijan, acknowledging that while progress had been made, there were frequent setbacks and provocations from the other side. He noted that Azerbaijan’s strategy of advancing negotiations only to later complicate them was not new.

Hovhannisyan emphasized that 58 countries and 10 international organizations had welcomed Armenia’s role in the peace process. He suggested that if a peace agreement were signed, it could lead to a new mandate for EU observers, potentially expanding beyond border areas. However, he admitted that full guarantees were impossible but stressed the need to mitigate risks through confidence-building measures.

Regarding international guarantees, Hovhannisyan underscored the role of the UN Security Council, noting that all five permanent members—the US, UK, France, China, and Russia—had welcomed the finalization of peace agreement negotiations. When asked about the role of these countries as mediators or guarantors, he declined to comment directly but acknowledged the involvement of international institutions such as the OSCE and UN.

In a separate discussion about Armenia's visa liberalization negotiations with the EU, Hovhannisyan expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress, particularly concerning delays in visa issuance. He noted that the Armenian Foreign Ministry had received numerous complaints from citizens. Despite the slow process, negotiations continued with individual EU countries regarding the opening of new consulates.

Hovhannisyan concluded by reiterating Armenia’s readiness to engage in peace talks with Azerbaijan, though he acknowledged that Baku had yet to respond. Despite potential setbacks, he remained hopeful about international support and the possibility of continued peace efforts.