BAKU, December 28. /TASS/. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said he hopes that Baku and Yerevan will resume face-to-face communication between their officials in 2024 to discuss normalization of relations between the two countries.

"In 2023, several face-to-face meetings were held, which are an important component of the process (of negotiations), but in recent months there has been a certain stagnation here, that is face-to-face meetings have not been held. We believe that 2024 will witness the resumption and holding of such communication," the minister said at a news conference recapping diplomatic efforts in 2023.

According to the minister, in order not to stay on track, the sides continued working on the peace agreement by passing each other their proposals on the draft.

Bayramov said that he is quite optimistic about "progress toward peace" in 2024.

"For its part, Azerbaijan, based on its legitimate interests and international law, is ready to take all necessary positive reciprocal steps," the minister stated.