Alen Simonyan: Azerbaijan is taking all steps aimed at deepening the peace process

Secretary of Armenia's Security Council Alen Simonyan stated that he sees Azerbaijan's practical readiness to continue steps toward deepening the peace process.

According to him, Yerevan and Baku agreed to continue working on unresolved issues, Armenian media report.

"I see that the Azerbaijani side will take and is currently taking all steps related to peace that it can afford," Simonyan told journalists.

According to him, during contacts with the Azerbaijani side, issues were discussed concerning persons of Armenian origin convicted by the Baku Military Court and accused of committing war crimes, as well as missing persons.

"On all these issues our discussion took place, and an agreement was reached to continue deepening [the process], to introduce new mechanisms so that those issues that have not yet found a solution find their solutions," the Security Council secretary said.

Simonyan also emphasized the need for a gradual change in the attitude of Armenian and Azerbaijani societies toward each other.

"We must be able to change the 30-year trace in people's attitudes as well, not only in Armenia but also in Azerbaijan," he noted, adding that mutual visits of delegations are already taking place between the two countries and these contacts must be continued.

Answering a question about a possible visit to Azerbaijan, Simonyan did not rule out that he would visit Baku.

He recalled that earlier a meeting had taken place in Dilijan between Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan and Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev.

"I do not rule out that I will also make such a visit. I cannot name any timeframe or any specifics," Simonyan said.

According to him, there is an agreement to hold another meeting, but specific dates have not yet been set.