Statements of Armenian officials at the time of ongoing negotiations do not serve peace – Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry

Baku/04.05.23/Turan: During a press conference with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic on May 4, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made absurd accusations against Azerbaijan in connection with the installation of a checkpoint on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, about the creation of a humanitarian crisis in Karabakh by Azerbaijan and the aggravation of the situation on the border with Armenia. Baku categorically rejects these "absurd statements" repeatedly voiced by Pashinyan," the Foreign Ministry said in a comment.

"Any comments on the creation of the Lachin border crossing on the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan and through which Armenian residents cross in both directions are unacceptable," the message reads. Official Baku notes that the Armenian side should stop interfering in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan.

As for Pashinyan's absurd statements about "ethnic cleansing", Armenia should not blame Azerbaijan for such actions, but recognize and apologize for the policy of mass killings and deportations with particular cruelty against Azerbaijanis throughout history.

"The fact that the Armenian side makes such statements at a time when negotiations on a peace agreement are ongoing means that it does not serve peace," the commentary says. ---16D----