No:005/23, Press release on the telephone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani
10 January 2023 20:19
On 10 January 2023, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Bujar Osmani held a telephone conversation.
During the telephone conversation, North Macedonia’s Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2023, Azerbaijan-OSCE relations, current issues on the agenda of bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and North Macedonia, including the current situation in the region, were discussed.
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov informed the other side about the current situation in the region, the steps taken by Azerbaijan towards the normalization process of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the obstacles created by Armenia to the negotiation process on the peace treaty.
The Minister stated that Armenia, grossly violating its obligations under the Trilateral Statement, abuses the Lachin road, intended only for humanitarian purposes, for the transportation to Armenia of Azerbaijan’s illegally exploited mineral resources, as well as for continuing the mine threat by bringing mines produced in 2021 from Armenia to Azerbaijan, the supply of Armenian armed forces not yet withdrawn from the territory of Azerbaijan, and the illegal passage of citizens of third countries, and that all these facts caused the rightful protest of the Azerbaijani side.
Providing information on the reasons that led to the protests, as well as on the Azerbaijani side’s attempt to hold negotiations for the purpose of conducting monitoring, it was underscored that the protest action of representatives of civil society of our country on the Lachin road is aimed at preventing the plundering of natural resources carried out during nearly 30 years of occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan and intensified in recent times.
It was emphasized that video footage demonstrating the unhindered passage through the Lachin road of citizens, the International Committee of the Red Cross, ambulances, vehicles of the peacekeeping contingent and other vehicles proves the groundlessness of claims that Azerbaijan has allegedly put Armenian residents under “blockade” and that a “tense humanitarian situation” is being experienced in the region.
Minister Bujar Osmani shared the views of the Chairmanship on work and plans within the framework of the OSCE, and at the same time noted the importance of taking steps towards the establishment of peace and security in the region and of dialogue.
During the telephone conversation, an exchange of views was also conducted on other regional issues of mutual interest.
