The MFA of Artsakh made a statement regarding the threats made by the President of Azerbaijan.
“On May 28, 2023, violating the norms and principles of international law, the obligations assumed by the Tripartite Declaration of November 2020, and at the same time ignoring the presence of the Russian peacekeeping troops, the President of Azerbaijan acted against the Republic of Artsakh, its democratic institutions, as well as against Azerbaijan’s military with militant and provocative statements about the possibility of resumption of operations. Baku’s repeated unconcealed threats and open blackmail leave no doubt that the Azerbaijani authorities consistently reject the very possibility of settling the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict through negotiations.
Long-term blockade, creation of unbearable living conditions, denial of the right to life and security, regular and massive violations of other fundamental rights and freedoms, repression and persecution are the very tools that Azerbaijan intends to continue to use against the people of Artsakh.
As shown by the blockade that has lasted for more than 5 months, the ongoing armed attacks and belligerent statements, Azerbaijan not only does not want to give up its policy of threats and violence, but also strengthens it more and more with the help of the international community, including the international mediators involved in the settlement process. under conditions of inactivity.
Azerbaijan’s statements about its alleged readiness to ensure the rights and security of Artsakh Armenians are just false talk and a smokescreen, behind which Baku’s real intention to subject Artsakh to ethnic cleansing is hidden. Demanding to recognize Artsakh as part of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the authorities of that country are actually trying to get a license to carry out their criminal plans with impunity.
The involved international actors should stop ignoring the real motives and the very goals of the Azerbaijani agenda towards Artsakh. The diplomatic and foreign political components of that agenda are the continuation of the policy of blackmail, coercion and threat of force carried out by Azerbaijan in gross violation of the UN Charter, OSCE and Council of Europe fundamental documents. Ignoring Azerbaijan’s real intentions, the violation of its international obligations, as well as any attempt by international mediators to seek constructiveness in Azerbaijan’s openly genocidal agenda is self-deception and is tantamount to approving Baku’s criminal actions.
We consider it absolutely unacceptable that the international community, and first of all, the Russian Federation, whose peacekeeping troops are stationed in Artsakh and under whose security guarantees tens of thousands of Artsakh citizens returned to their homeland after the 2020 war, leave Azerbaijan’s threats to resume military operations against Artsakh without a proper and tough response. .
We proceed from the fact that the international mediators, represented by the co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group and the European Union, should pay more attention to Azerbaijan’s bellicose rhetoric and illegal actions and move from words to action to prevent the criminal plans of the Azerbaijani authorities and thereby prove in practice their universal commitment to international law. fundamental norms and principles, ensuring the rights and security of the people of Artsakh, as well as establishing a just, dignified and lasting peace in the region”.
