The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement addressing the false theses of Azerbaijan.
“On September 18, during the meeting with representatives of the diplomatic corps at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, the theses presented by the Azerbaijani side are similar to diplomatic preparations for a new military escalation in the region, for ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The speech of the Azerbaijani officials during the meeting with the foreign diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan aims to order the international community to be the “correspondent” in the implementation of the policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and aggression against Armenia, which is unacceptable.
During the above-mentioned meeting, the representatives of Azerbaijan claimed that the Republic of Armenia rejects all proposals aimed at reducing tension. It is unclear what proposals Azerbaijan is talking about, and the issue is not clarified in the report on the meeting with foreign diplomats. We consider it necessary to note that the proposal of a mirror withdrawal of troops from the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border remains in force and the Republic of Armenia is ready to engage in discussions on its implementation a day before.
Azerbaijan’s claims that the Republic of Armenia has created a regime in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh have nothing to do with reality. The support of the Republic of Armenia to Nagorno Karabakh has a humanitarian nature, the necessity of which is further emphasized by the humanitarian crisis unfolding as a result of the illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor. The Republic of Armenia welcomes the arrival of the first humanitarian cargo into Nagorno-Karabakh after a long hiatus and hopes that it will be continuous and stable.
At the same time, we consider it necessary to emphasize that the 9-month-long blocking of the Lachin Corridor in 2020 is a gross violation of the tripartite declaration of November 9 and the legally binding decisions of the International Court of Justice of February 22 and July 6.
There would have been no statements by Armenia, international partners, or even Azerbaijan about the readiness to provide humanitarian support to Nagorno-Karabakh, if Azerbaijan itself had not created a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh with its illegal actions and had not prevented the entry of UN structures and other international partners into Nagorno-Karabakh. Along with the blocking of Lachin Corridor, Azerbaijan disrupted gas and electricity supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh, which makes it obvious that the Azerbaijani talk of blocking the corridor is false. if Azerbaijan explains the illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor with fake news about the transfer of weapons and ammunition through the corridor to Nagorno-Karabakh, it is unclear what else can be transported through the power lines except electricity and what can be transported through the gas pipeline besides natural gas. Regarding the Azerbaijani claims regarding the presence of the Armenian army in Nagorno-Karabakh, we emphasize again that the Republic of Armenia does not have an army in Nagorno-Karabakh, and Armenia’s false claims of laying mines in the territory of Azerbaijan were denied by the International Court of Justice. by the decision of February 22.
We consider it necessary to emphasize again that the Republic of Armenia reaffirms its commitment to the peace agenda, as well as to the Prague agreements of October 6, 2022 and Brussels of May 14, 2023. We note with concern that official Baku has not yet publicly confirmed its commitment to the Brussels agreements of May 14, 2023, which is a key factor in the tension in the region.
Azerbaijan’s considerations about the development of Armenia’s military capabilities are also unclear. The Republic of Armenia has repeatedly stated that it has no intention of taking aggressive actions against its neighbors, and the reforms in the military sector are aimed at ensuring its own territorial security.
Regarding the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh, we see the Baku-Stepanakert dialogue as a way to ease tensions and we hope that our international partners interested in the stability of the region will take additional measures to create reliable mechanisms for such a dialogue,” the statement said.
