The rights and security of Karabakh Armenians will be ensured by the Azerbaijani state – I. Aliyev

Baku/25.09.23/Turan: The rights and security of Karabakh Armenians will be ensured by the Azerbaijani state, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said after meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on September 25 in Nakhchivan. "People living in the Karabakh region are citizens of Azerbaijan, regardless of their nationality," Aliyev said. Their safety, protection and rights will be provided by the Azerbaijani state," he added.

"A few days ago, representatives of Karabakh Armenians met with representatives of state structures of Azerbaijan in the city of Yevlakh. The second meeting is taking place today," Aliyev further noted.

The Head of State expressed confidence that "the process of integration of the Armenian population living in Karabakh into Azerbaijani society will be successful." "Azerbaijan's anti-terrorist operation in Karabakh is a matter of pride. It was successfully carried out in a short time with maximum consideration for the rights of the civilian population," Erdogan said in turn. "We expect that Armenia will accept the hand of peace extended to it and will continue to take sincere steps," he added.

The two heads of state took part in the ceremony of laying the Igdyr-Nakhchivan gas pipelines. "The opening of the Igdir-Nakhchivan gas pipeline will deepen Turkey's partnership with Azerbaijan in the field of energy," Erdogan said. The total length of the pipeline is 160 km, of which 85 km on the territory of Turkey. The gas will come from Turkey from the TANAP pipeline. The project will be commissioned in 2024. The capacity of the gas pipeline will be 500 million cubic meters per year.

A protocol of intent on the construction of the Kars-Nakhchivan railway was also signed today.

Nakhchivan Exclave – Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan lost land connection with the mainland of the country in early 1990, after the aggression against Azerbaijan.

For a long time, communication with autonomy was by air. Subsequently, a land transport connection was established through Iran. Also, gas supplies also began to be carried out through Iran via swap exchange. ---06в---