On 30 June, the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov respectively, held a video conference under the facilitation of the OSCE Minsk-group co-chairs. During the conference the public health situation in the region, current dynamics in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and next steps in the peace process were discussed.

Mnatsakanyan condemned the recent statements by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, describing them as “bellicose and unconstructive” and noting that they undermine the environment of the peace process and hinder the implementation of the commitment to prepare the populations for peace. He apparently referred to Aliyev’s remarks made at a meeting with Azerbaijani army officers on 25 June, where he described Armenia’s post-Soviet history as “shameful,” and that it was for decades ruled by “criminals and thieves.” He also said that the 2018 popular protests that brought Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to power were not a democratic revolution. Mnatsakanyan also underscored the need to consistently ensure the comprehensive security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, including through free and safe movement.

Mammadyarov stressed that Armenia's provocative actions escalate the rhetoric. He also raised the issue of illegal activities, including infrastructure changes carried out by Armenia in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh territories of Azerbaijan. He referred to the planned reconstruction of another road connecting Karabakh to Armenia (Caucasus Watch reported). The spokesperson of Azerbaijan’s MFA Leyla Abdullayeva stressed in response to Mnatsakanyan’s statements that there is no such notion as the people of Karabakh. She emphasized that the purpose of the negotiations on the settlement of the conflict is to restore the violated fundamental rights of the Azerbaijani community of Karabakh and to ensure the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh territories.

The co-chairs, emphasized the importance of promoting and maintaining an atmosphere conducive to peace and favourable to substantive negotiations. They positively assessed the relative stability on the ground and expressed satisfaction that the sides continue to use existing direct communication links to avoid escalation. 

However, the they noted with concern that recent provocative statements, inflammatory rhetoric, and possible steps intended to change the situation on the ground in tangible ways could undermine the settlement process. They also stressed that there is no military solution to the conflict. They urged the sides to take additional steps to strengthen the ceasefire and to prepare the populations for peace. The co-chairs also stressed the urgency of resuming monitoring exercises under the leadership of the PRCIO as soon as conditions allow.