Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Replies to Moscow: We Ourselves Decide Who to Allow into Azerbaijan

Baku / 07.07.17 / Turan: The repeated expression of the Russian Foreign Ministry"s attitude to the ban on the entry of Russian citizens of Armenian origin into the territory of Azerbaijan in an undiplomatic form is surprising and perplexing. Such an unfriendly attitude does not correspond to the spirit of strategic partnership between the two states. This is stated by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan

Further in the statement it is said that the Azerbaijani side created conditions for the entry of Russian citizens of Armenian nationality into the territory of Azerbaijan "on the basis of the prior information and warning regime".

"So far, hundreds of citizens of Armenian origin from Russia and other countries have been allowed to visit Azerbaijan with the appropriate preliminary warning," the document says.

Further, the Foreign Ministry notes that "Azerbaijan, based on its national and security interests, itself makes a decision on admission of foreign citizens to its territory."

Such attention of the Russian side to the issue of the entry of citizens of the Russian Federation of Armenian nationality into the territory of Azerbaijan raises serious questions.

"Russia is one of the co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, and we expect that Russia, based on its responsibilities, will further intensify efforts aimed at an early settlement of the conflict, and the Armenian troops will be withdrawn from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

After this, there will be an opportunity for free entry and exit of citizens. This position of the Azerbaijani side has been repeatedly brought to the attention of the Russian Foreign Ministry in the appropriate form," the statement says. -02D-