Babloyan: Karabakh issue should be settled by pen, not weapon

ArmInfo. Speaker of Armenian Parliament Ara Babloyan during the meeting with the Ambassador of Belarus to Armenia Igor Nazaruk stressed the important role of  parliamentary diplomacy in the development of cooperation between the  countries, according to Armenian NA press service. 

At the same time, he stressed that a friendship group with Belarus is  already formed in Armenian Parliament. Babloyan also stressed the  important role of Armenian-Belarusian relations, based on mutual  cultural and spiritual values.  Referring Nagorno-Karabakh  settlement, the  head of Armenian Parliament noted that Armenia as a  civil country sees the settlement of the conflict only through  peaceful negotiations within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.  Speaking about the tension at the contact line between the troops in  recent days, Babloyan said in particular: "The settlement of the  conflict and finding ways to solve it should be held at the  negotiating table, the issues should be settled by pen, not weapons.  Victims should not be on any side. " In this context, Armenian  speaker expressed gratitude to Belarus for a balanced position on  this issue.

In his turn, Nazaruk congratulated Babloyan on appointment to the  post of speaker of the Parliament and for conducting transparent and  fair elections. Referring to  the Karabakh issue, Nazaruk said that  there is no alternative to OSCE Minsk Group in the settlement of the  conflict. According to him, Minsk is a supporter of the peaceful  resolution of the problem. At the same time, the Ambassador noted the  importance of developing and deepening the relations between the  parliaments of the two countries, and stressed the need to support  each other in international platforms.

The parties referred to conducting constitutional reforms in Armenia,  parliamentary form of governing, as well as the activity of the group  of newly elected Parliament.