OSCE Chairman-in-Office to visit Armenia

ArmInfo.  Switzerland welcomes the progress made towards peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the political will demonstrated by both sides to overcome the  conflict, which has caused suffering for many years. Ignazio Cassis,  Member of the Swiss Federal Council and Head of the Federal  Department of Foreign Affairs, and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, stated  this in an interview with the state news agency AzerTac.

"I say this as both the Swiss Foreign Minister and the OSCE  Chairperson-in-Office. During my upcoming visit, I will convey the  same message to Yerevan. Switzerland supports dialogue and  confidence-building.  In 2022, talks between the foreign ministers of  the two countries took place in Geneva, and we are ready to support  steps towards normalization whenever this could be beneficial. The  resumption of trade, transport links, and other confidence-building  measures is encouraging. We expect both sides to continue to move  toward a lasting peace that will benefit the peoples of both  countries. I look forward to hosting the foreign ministers of  Azerbaijan and Armenia in Lugano for the OSCE Ministerial Council in  December," the Swiss Foreign Minister stated.

He added that during his country's Chairmanship, steps will be taken  to strengthen the OSCE as a platform for dialogue. "This is one of  the few places where all 57 participating states still sit around the  same table.  In a time of tension, the very continuation of such  dialogue is an achievement; our task is to use this opportunity to  restore trust," said Ignazio Cassis, who is currently visiting Baku.