Aliyev to Michel: eight villages of Azerbaijan are still under Armenian occupation

Baku/07.10.23/Turan: In a  telephone conversation, President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel engaged with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to discuss pressing regional matters, according to a statement released by the press service of the Azerbaijani president.

During the conversation, President Aliyev raised concerns regarding the mention of Azerbaijan in a four-party declaration that emerged from a meeting in Granada, which included Michel, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Notably, Azerbaijan did not participate in this meeting, and Aliyev characterized its inclusion in the declaration as a "misguided approach."

President Aliyev attributed Azerbaijan's non-participation in the Granada meeting to France's perceived bias, highlighting France's supply of weapons to Armenia as a potentially destabilizing factor. Aliyev warned that such actions by France could contribute to new conflicts in the region, and in that event, France would bear responsibility.

Furthermore, President Aliyev expressed concerns about an "anti-Azerbaijani resolution" adopted by the European Parliament, which he criticized as being rooted in "xenophobic and chauvinistic" sentiments. He deemed the statements contained within the resolution as "unacceptable" and argued that they did not contribute to peace and stability in the region.

Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan has exercised its right to self-defense within the framework of international law and the UN Charter while ensuring the neutralization of illegal military entities on its territory. He emphasized that Azerbaijan's actions were fully in accordance with international law.

Regarding the situation in Karabakh, President Aliyev stated that the Azerbaijani government has extended humanitarian assistance to Armenian residents and initiated a process for their registration as part of a reintegration policy. He asserted that it was the separatist regime that compelled Armenians to leave the territory.

Additionally, President Aliyev highlighted that eight Azerbaijani villages, including seven in the Gazakh district and one in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, remain under Armenian occupation. He stressed the importance of liberating these areas.

In the context of regional development, Aliyev informed Michel about ongoing efforts to establish a regional transport corridor between Azerbaijan and Iran. He noted the recent ceremony for laying a road bridge and border and customs infrastructure near the village of Agband in Azerbaijan's Zangilan region. This bridge will form the initial segment of a route connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through Iran, bypassing Armenia.

President Michel, in response, conveyed the European Union's readiness to continue its endeavors aimed at normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as stated by the Azerbaijani president's press service.--0--