ASTANA, Kazakhstan—Armenia’s Acting Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan told his colleagues at a summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization that Artsakh’s security and status are priorities in Armenia’s foreign policy and reiterated Yerevan’s commitment to resolving the Karabakh conflict exceptionally in a peaceful way under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Mnatsakanyan also raised the issue of Artsakh’s direct participation in the peace talks.

He attached importance to the meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan during the CIS Summit in Dushanbe and the agreements reached therein. He said that if implemented the agreements will contribute to the establishment of an atmosphere conducive to the peace process.

Mnatsakanyan stressed the need to reject warlike rhetoric, noting that it leads to the growth of enmity and establishment of an atmosphere of distrust in the region. He noted that the arms race is worrisome and does not contribute to the conflict resolution issue.

Mnatsakhanyan said that Yerevan attached great importance to joint and comprehensive efforts targeted at fighting radicalism and international terrorism.

He also expressed concern over the situation in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, as well as on the challenges facing ethnic and religious minorities in the region as a result of activity of terrorist groups.