It’s a Matter of Hours or Days: Khandanyan on the Return of Prisoners

The statement made by the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan was within the framework of a bilateral process. This clarification was provided by the chairman of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, Sargis Khandanyan.

He stated, “There is no mention of any other party in the declaration; negotiations took place between the two administrations.” When asked whether this is aimed at establishing a basis for a bilateral negotiation format, he noted, “The issue is humanitarian, concerning the return of prisoners, about which we have spoken at length and numerous times.”

Khandanyan emphasized that the declaration should not be underestimated but neither should it be overestimated within the context of the overall negotiation process.

“The return of prisoners should take place in the near future; it is a matter of hours or days. If I am not mistaken, the text of the declaration mentioned that it would occur at the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” he reported.