Reaction in Azerbaijan to Virtual Negotiations of Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan

Baku / 24.04.20 / Turan: The virtual round of talks on April 21 between the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia Elmar Mammadyarov and Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, the statement following the meeting and the speech of the Azerbaijani Minister at the meeting were sharply criticized by experts in Baku.

MP of the Milli Majlis Javanshir Feyziev believes that Mammadyarov should have responded harshly to the "aggressive and unscrupulous" rhetoric of the Armenian leadership. “Until we get rid of the repeat of streamlined statements, no negotiations will have any result. Armenia, abusing such a situation, will try to maintain the status quo by any means. The right is on our side, and for some reason, instead of attacking, we defend ourselves”.

Feiziev believes that Mammadyarov does not comply with the instruction of President I. Aliyev on the transition from defensive to offensive tactics. The Foreign Ministry does not act in line with the presidential policy. I. Aliyev is always on the offensive, but an adequate position of our Foreign Ministry is not observed, says Feiziev.

He also criticizes Azerbaijani diplomatic missions abroad, which cannot withstand international pressure on Azerbaijan. Feiziev calls for radical reforms in foreign policy, including personnel.

MP and chairman of the Ana Veten party, Fazail Agamaly, also believes Mammadyarov does not correspond to the “attacking diplomacy” conducted by Ilham Aliyev in relation to Armenia.

“Read the latest statement by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry! Elmar Mammadyarov seems to be busy with covering the occupation policy of Armenia against Azerbaijan. It is impossible to make such toothless and cowardly statements against the occupying country. We are a country under occupation. But for some reason, our Foreign Minister gives cautious and even cowardly comments, "Fazail Agamaly said in an interview with local media.

Historian and publicist Eldar Guinesli writes to the FB that the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry meekly suffers the Armenian slap in the face, referring to a statement by the representative of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, which stated that a phased version of the settlement of the Karabakh conflict and an option that does not provide for Karabakh’s right to self-determination without restrictions are unacceptable to Armenia.

The benefit of these “negotiations” is only for Armenia, which has been conserving the status quo for a quarter century, with occupation of the territory of Azerbaijan. Being under the military-political protection of Russia, it sees no reason to make any concessions or compromises.

For mediators, it is also important not to resolve the issue, but to imitate negotiations in order to prevent a military solution, and here their interests completely coincide with the Armenian ones.

 Former Foreign Minister Tofig Zulfugarov was indignant that Mammadyarov and Mnatsakanyan were discussing the pandemic in recent talks.

"How should one understand the discussion of the topic of coronavirus by the foreign ministers of the warring countries? Are they doctors or virologists? This theater of absurdity, which has been operating for many years, has reached its peak. On the other hand, the meeting that has taken place proves that the tactics held over a long time no longer work. For Mammadyarov under these conditions, it would be worthwhile to address the issue of the return of Azerbaijanis from foreign countries. This would be more correct than discussing the coronavirus with the enemy. This is simply nonsense," he concluded. -0-