"Rights and security" apply not only to Armenians but to Azerbaijanis expelled from Karabakh as well - Foreign Ministry

Baku/19.07.23/Turan: Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan's 18 June statements at a press conference in Vienna are another example of Yerevan's disrespect for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and lack of interest in achieving peace and stability in the region. This is stated in the commentary of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, once again accusing Azerbaijan and making a number of unfounded claims, demonstrated that he is not interested in peace and stability in the region, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry noted.

"The fact that the Armenian Foreign Minister, instead of showing respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, hinders the peace process under the pretext of "rights and security" of Armenians living in Karabakh, which has been under occupation for nearly 30 years, where ethnic cleansing was carried out against Azerbaijanis, testifies to the true intentions of the Armenian authorities," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stressed in its commentary.

Speaking about the "population of Karabakh", it is unacceptable to imply only the rights of Armenian residents and ignore the "rights and security" of Azerbaijani residents expelled from these lands, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry pointed out.

"Azerbaijan is the party initiating dialogue with the Armenian residents and it is important to reciprocate these benevolent steps of Azerbaijan. At the same time, it should be clear to the Armenian side that Azerbaijan equally ensures and will ensure the rights and security of all ethnic minorities living in the country," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry further said in its commentary.

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry stressed that claims of a "tense humanitarian situation" in the region are "a political adventure and manipulation by Armenia". "The objection to the carriage of goods along the Aghdam-Khankendi road proposed by Azerbaijan is an example of the groundlessness of these claims. Armenia's distortion of the International Court of Justice's decision of 6 July 2023 on the unanimous rejection of the Armenian side's demand for the liquidation of the Lachin border crossing point, as well as the commission of a military provocation against this point and smuggling attempts show that Armenia does not intend to comply with international norms and principles," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry further said in its commentary.

At the same time, "the fact that Armenia, which has not yet fully withdrawn its occupation armed forces from Azerbaijani territories, has put forward a condition "to establish clarity on the state border" and declared it "a key factor in the negotiation process" does not fit into common sense.

The Foreign Ministry also pointed to the failure to fulfil for three years its commitments to open transport communications from the western regions of Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan.

"If Armenia is interested in peace, stability and security in the region, it should stop hypocrisy and falsified manipulations and comply with its international legal obligations for the successful completion of the peace process," the commentary of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry concluded. -06В-