No Mention of Astana Mediation in Mirzoyan-Bayramov Talks, Says Kazakhstan's MFA

The authorities of Kazakhstan, while organizing a meeting in Almaty between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov, stated that they would not act as mediators in the negotiations. This was announced by the official representative of the Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aibek Smadiarov, during a press briefing, as reported by TASS.

“We are planning such negotiations in Almaty, and we are currently in contact with our partners from Azerbaijan and Armenia. The upcoming negotiations will take place exclusively between the parties themselves. I would like to emphasize that there is no talk of Astana mediation. We are simply expressing goodwill,” he stated.

The representative of the Kazakhstan MFA reminded that during his recent visits to Azerbaijan and Armenia, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the importance of establishing a strong long-term peace between the two countries. Tokayev also declared Kazakhstan’s readiness to assist by providing a platform for negotiations between Yerevan and Baku.