Azerbaijan Protested US Because of Sahakyan�s Visit and Threatens with Retaliatory Steps

Baku / 12.03.18 / Turan: US Ambassador to Baku Robert Cekuta was summoned to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry today, and was handed a note of protest in connection with the visit of the leader of Karabakh separatists Bako Sahakyan to the US and his participation in an event in the building of the US Congress.

The note indicates the illegitimacy of issuing a visa to the resident of the city of Khankendi of the Nagorno-Karabakh region Bako Sahakyan and allowing him to conduct activities in the United States to promote the separatist regime and raise funds.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan regards these steps as actions against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, violation of the norms of international law, the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, and points out the contradiction of this to US-Azerbaijani bilateral documents and the US official position.

These steps are regarded by Baku as a prejudiced step and change of position in the issue of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, and as a manifestation of the US double standards.

The United States as a permanent member of the UN Security Council should contribute to the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution on the Karabakh conflict.

Calling for a peaceful solution to the conflict, and creating conditions for the propaganda of the illegal regime, the United States questions its impartiality and objectivity.

This step by Washington is causing serious damage to the negotiation process, contributing to the growth of tensions in the region, undermining peace and security in the region and confidence in the US in Azerbaijan's public opinion.

Azerbaijan will respond to these US actions on the principles of reciprocity, the Foreign Ministry said. -06D--