Pashinyan, Putin emphasize full implementation of November 9 statement

YEREVAN, April 24. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation today with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the government press office reported.

It said while referring to the provisions of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020 (signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia to end the hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, the presidents emphasized the need for full implementation of the 8th clause of the statement, which concerns the exchange of prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees.

The two leaders discussed cooperation in the spheres of security and energy, ongoing programs and regional challenges. 

On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijani armed forces, backed by Turkey and foreign mercenaries and terrorists, attacked Nagorno-Karabakh along the entire front line using rocket and artillery weapons, heavy armored vehicles, military aircraft and prohibited types of weapons such as cluster bombs and  phosphorus weapons.

After 44 days of the war, on November 9, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on the cessation of all hostilities. According to the document, the parties stopped at where they were at that time. The town of Shushi, the districts of Agdam, Kelbajar and Lachin were handed over to Azerbaijan, with the exception of a 5-kilometer corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia. 

A Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed along the contact line in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor. Internally displaced persons and refugees are returning to Karabakh and adjacent regions, prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons and bodies of the dead are being exchanged.

Armenia and Azerbaijan earlier agreed to "all for all" swap of POWs. However, Azerbaijan still holds unknown dozens of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians.--0-