Yerevan Invites Representatives of Armenian Diaspora to Participate in Hostilities - MFA

Baku / 03.10.20 / Turan: The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued a statement, which refers to the attraction of ethnic Armenians who are citizens of other states to participate in hostilities in the occupied territories.
The Foreign Ministry evaluates the participation of these individuals in the hostilities as terrorist activities and violations of international law.
As stated in the statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, “Armenia, in order to compensate for the serious losses incurred by its armed forces, is taking steps to attract members of the diaspora of Armenian origin living abroad to the military formations illegally deployed in the occupied Azerbaijani territories.”
According to the information available to the Azerbaijani side, including news from open sources, "thousands of Armenian-origin citizens of Syria, Lebanon, Russia, Georgia, Greece, the United Arab Emirates and other countries have arrived or are preparing to arrive in the occupied territories to participate in battles."
The government of Armenia and organizations of the Armenian diaspora call on ethnic Armenians living abroad to urgently come to participate in the military operations continuing in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
Collection points are set up in these countries, and air tickets are bought for those leaving for Armenia.
Some organizations of the Armenian diaspora, acting in the status of charitable societies or non-governmental organizations, collect donations and other funds to supply the armed formations fighting against the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan.
 The Foreign Ministry recalls that, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution No. 2178 (2014), “persons who visit the territory of another country for the purpose of committing terrorist acts, planning, preparing or conducting terrorist exercises, including situations associated with armed conflicts, are defined as“ foreign terrorist fighters ”.
 In this regard, the Azerbaijani side urges all countries of origin and transit to pay special attention to the increased visits of their citizens to Armenia and to take appropriate preventive measures of border control at the borders, as well as to suppress the financing of terrorist activities directed against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani side is determined to take all necessary steps to prevent the organization and financing of terrorist activities against its internationally recognized territories and its civilian population, as well as to bring those responsible to justice within the framework of bilateral and multilateral relevant international mechanisms.    -0-