Pashinyan considers OSCE Minsk Group abolition

On August 31, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan tackled a range of important topics during a press conference.

Among other issues, he indicated that Armenia might support the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group if all disputes between Yerevan and Baku are resolved, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

Pashinyan stated, "Armenia may advocate for the termination of the OSCE Minsk Group if we reach a resolution on all issues with Azerbaijan."

He also addressed the status of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia, noting, “We have no concerns regarding the presence of the 102nd Russian base in Armenia.”

In June, Baku proposed that Yerevan request the OSCE to disband the Minsk Group, which was established to mediate the Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev suggested that both nations should jointly appeal to the OSCE for the group’s dissolution, asserting, “There is no need for it; it is not functioning now. We de facto will not allow it to function. De jure, it should be abolished, which will demonstrate Armenia's sincerity. If Armenia chooses to keep the Minsk Group, it implies ongoing territorial claims.”

The OSCE Minsk Group was founded in 1992 and is co-chaired by Russia, France, and the United States. However, in April 2022, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that Paris and Washington had withdrawn from cooperative efforts with Moscow within the group, stating "they would not engage with Russia in this format".