22 February 2023 23:23

We strongly condemn the remarks made by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during the joint press briefing with Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn on 22 February.

As always, the Armenian Foreign Minister distorts the discussions and negotiations on the peace process and engages in manipulation. With its statement, the Armenian side once again demonstrates that it is not interested in peace in the region.

The assessment as the use of force of the proposal of the Azerbaijani side to establish a border checkpoint in order to prevent cases of abuse of the Lachin road related to the plundering of Azerbaijan’s natural resources, the rotation of illegal Armenian armed forces, the transportation of mines and ammunition, and the illegal passage of citizens of third countries into the territory of Azerbaijan once again shows that Armenia is not interested in ensuring transparency on the Lachin road.

The refusal of the Armenian side of the proposal for a border checkpoint that would put an end to cases of abuse of the Lachin road, which is intended only for humanitarian purposes, once again shows that the real intention of the Armenian side is to continue using the road for illegal purposes contrary to the Trilateral Statement dated 10 November 2020 by repeating its claims that the protest actions have created a “blockade” and a “tense humanitarian situation.” This once again proves that, in fact, claims that the actions on the Lachin road have created a “humanitarian situation” have no basis and that Armenia uses this claim only for its political purposes.

As for Armenia’s claims regarding an international mechanism related to the rights and security of Armenian residents living in the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan, as well as the issue of dialogue with Armenian residents, we would like to note that, as was clearly stated in the Munich talks, the rights and security of residents of Armenian origin living in the region will be ensured in accordance with the Constitution and legislative acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani side has also stated that it is ready to conduct dialogue not with persons who came to the Garabagh region from other areas and present themselves as representatives of Armenian residents, but, as before, with representatives who have the right to represent Armenian residents. Armenia, in accordance with the norms and principles of international law, as well as the Prague and Sochi agreements, under which the countries mutually recognized each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, must not interfere in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan and must abandon territorial claims.

The biased position demonstrated by the Luxembourg Minister without awareness of the situation in the region and completely contrary to the relevant principles of international law is entirely groundless. It seems that, as before, the Luxembourg side has still not abandoned the practice of using theses reflecting the false propaganda of the Armenian side. We once again state that such provocative and biased statements cannot hinder the future development and progress of the region on the basis of respect for the principles of international law.