Former Minister: Official Baku must present territorial claims to Armenia

Baku/19.05.21/Turan:  Armenian has created tension on the border with Azerbaijan because of the absence of ensuring its security in general. Therefore, using the actions of the Azerbaijani side to demilitarize and demarcate the border, Armenia is raising a fuss about the threat to its territorial integrity in order to secure its support, said the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Tofig Zulfugarov in the program "Difficult issue" on May 18.

According to him, currently Armenia is experiencing economic, political, demographic problems, more than 1 million people have left the country, it is expected that at least 100 thousand people will emigrate after the coronavirus pandemic. In his opinion, Armenia wants to attract Russia and Western countries to ensure its security.

The ex-minister is skeptical about defining boundaries using maps. He emphasizes that Armenia no longer recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. “In response and within the framework of offensive diplomacy, Azerbaijan should put forward territorial claims against Armenia. These claims are already there. Zangezur is a territory of Azerbaijan and was transferred to Armenia in the first years of Soviet power. Now Azerbaijan must declare this, and the opposition parties must be more active in this matter than the authorities,” the ex-minister said.

According to him, the recent calls of a number of Western countries to become mediators between Azerbaijan and Armenia testify to this and by what means they want to involve the OSCE Minsk Group in the game, which was left out of the game.

Zulfugarov says that using the border situation, Armenia is trying to create an "intervention zone" for France to enter the region and use force. However, Armenia is not an authority here. The winning Azerbaijan invited Turkey and Russia to the region.

As for the question of whether Azerbaijan can get more aid from Russia or Western countries, Zulfugarov replied that the difference would not be as big as it is now.

Meanwhile, there is still tensions in the Garagel region on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia.  Although Azerbaijan claims to draw demarcation lines on its territory, the Armenian side regards this as an encroachment on its “territorial integrity.” - 05B-