On October 23, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan held a phone conversation with the Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis.

The interlocutors touched upon the situation resulting from the large-scale war in Artsakh. In this context, the Foreign Minister drew the Federal Councillor’s attention to the numerous violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes registered due to the Azerbaijani aggression, which unequivocally prove that the ultimate goal of Azerbaijan’s military-political leadership is to annihilate the people of Artsakh.

Minister Mnatsakanyan noted that Armenia appreciates the principled statement of the Federal Department, which strongly condemned the gross violations of international humanitarian law during the military hostilities. The Foreign Minister expressed conviction that Azerbaijan should bear appropriate international responsibility for the criminal encroachments against the people of Artsakh.

The Armenian Foreign Minister also touched upon the statements issued by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries on October 10 and October 17, reiterating Armenia's commitment to the implementation of the agreements it has undertaken.

Ignazio Cassis reiterated Switzerland's support to the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs directed to the peaceful resolution to the conflict. Both sides stressed the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities.