Azerbaijan is eligible to take control of Lachin – Tofig Zulfugarov

Baku/16.08.21/Turan: The criticism of the Azerbaijani President against Russian peacekeepers disclosed in an interview with CNN Turk, is justified. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country Tofik Zulfugarov told Turan.

Similar criticism of the actions of the Russian peacekeeping mission by Aliyev has been heard before; however, but this time it was tougher, Zulfugarov believes.

He recalled that, unlike traditional international operations, peacekeepers in Karabakh have no mandate regulating their actions. This was due to the need for urgent decisions to end the war.

There are two types of peacekeeping operations: ensuring security measures that are taken with full respect for the sovereignty of the host country; and "peace enforcing" operations that are carried out by a decision of the UN Security Council and admit sovereignty restrictions.

The mission of Russian peacekeepers goes back to the first type and is carried out on the territory of Azerbaijan which is not questioned by anyone, including the Russian Federation. In this respect, Baku, in keeping with the international law, calls for control over entry and exit to its territory through Lachin.

"There should be joint control of the Azerbaijani and Russian military in the Lachin corridor. The peacekeepers from the Russian Federation should ensure security while the Azerbaijani side should exercise control over entry and cargo.

In considering that the corridor is humanitarian, military goods, and especially military personnel, cannot be delivered through it. The entry of foreigners must be carried out in line with official border procedures of Azerbaijan.

A special procedure for crossing the border might temporarily be applied to persons of Armenian nationality living on the territory of Azerbaijan," Zulfugarov stressed.

Can Azerbaijan withdraw from the joint statement if Baku's demands are not taken into account?

In reply to the question, Zulfugarov noted that if Armenia fails to comply with items of the statement, refusing to completely withdraw its military from Karabakh and disagreeing with the opening of the Zangezur corridor, then Azerbaijan can consider itself free from obligations.

As viewed by Zulfugarov, Azerbaijan does not violate its obligations, nor prevent the Russian peacekeepers from carrying out their  activities to ensure the safety of the Armenian residents.

Currently, Karabakh is depopulated, and five thousand people more have left the region over the past month than they entered.

The transfer of the Armenian military to Karabakh is due to the depopulation of the region, and there is no one to set up posts there, the diplomat believes.

What is the reason for tightening of Armenia's position recently and the frequent shelling of Azerbaijani positions?

In reply to the question, Zulfugarov noted that the peace treaty necessarily implies mutual recognition of the territorial integrity of the parties, so the Armenian side goes to provocations. Yerevan is not ready for this and seeking, in every possible way, to revive the thesis of self-determination of Karabakh,

Can the OSCE Minsk Group play a role in the current situation?

According to Zulfugarov, the future fate of the Minsk Group depends on Azerbaijan. At the time, Baku asked for mediation in the settlement of the conflict. However, it failed, and Azerbaijan resolved the conflict itself.

When asked if there is a possibility of the new war, the diplomat replied in the affirmative. If Yerevan continues to evade the signing of a peace treaty, the restoration of transport communications, mutual recognition of the territorial integrity of Armenia and Azerbaijan, the process of delimitation and demarcation of borders, and continues aggressive actions to create security threats, then Baku has the right to respond adequately to this. - 06B-