YEREVAN. Dec 5 (Interfax) - The signing of an agreement over peace between Yerevan and Baku is possible within the shortest time possible, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said.
"Armenia continues its constructive engagement in negotiations aiming to fully normalize relations with Azerbaijan. We have also managed to achieve some progress towards signing the Peace Agreement between our two countries," Mirzoyan told the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Valletta on Thursday.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on the preamble and 15 of 17 articles of the draft peace agreement, he said.
"If there is enough political will, it can be concluded and signed swiftly. Armenia has continuously proven its readiness to sign the agreement and close the page of enmity in South Caucasus," Mirzoyan said.
Full settlement of Armenia's relations with Turkey, establishment of diplomatic relations and border opening could further contribute to regional peace and stability, he said. "To this end, we continue the dialogue with our Turkish counterparts and take some practical steps which include joint assessment of the bridge between Armenia and Turkey as well as the technical requirements for the border crossing by the Gyumri-Kars railway. Once the agreements are implemented, they will have positive impact on the people of the region and beyond," Mirzoyan said.
He also criticized OSCE activities. While Armenia consistently advocated full implementation of the OSCE principles across the whole of the OSCE responsibility zone, stating the need for early warning of the use of force, urging quick and decisive action, the OSCE's conflict prevention mechanisms and tools continued to remain inactive, the minister said.
"But our criticism should be perceived only in the context of our strong desire to have an effective security organization with its autonomous institutions that act in strict compliance with their mandates, commitments and principles without a backward glance to any other consideration," Mirzoyan said.