Azerbaijani Foreign Minister urges the international community to influence the aggressor

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov addressed the international community in connection with the recent events  in Karabakh. The message is addressed to the heads of States members and co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, the CIS, the OSCE Chairman - in Germany, in the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, NATO Secretary General, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.

Mammadyarov noted that the April 2, 2016 Armenian armed forces shelled from heavy weapons the civilian population living in the border areas, as well as all Azerbaijani units along the contact line of troops of Azerbaijani Armed Forces units. This has resulted in civilian casualties. To ensure the safety of the civilian population and to prevent provocations of Armenia, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces took  necessary steps.

The main reason for the continuation of the conflict and the deterioration of the situation is the illegal presence of armed forces of Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The Minister noted, that four UN Security Council resolutions confirmed that the Nagorny Karabakh region is an integral part of Azerbaijan, and require the full and immediate withdrawal of the occupying forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

"Armenia should stop deceiving their people and the international community to put an end to the policy of annexation, to withdraw its forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan, in a constructive manner to take part in the negotiation process and to comply with its international obligations,"  emphasized Mamedyarov.-06D-