No:431/23, Press release on the telephone conversation between Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Bujar Osmani
10 August 2023 20:59
On 10 August 2023, a telephone conversation was held between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia and Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Bujar Osmani.
During the telephone conversation, issues of cooperation within the OSCE, the bilateral and multilateral cooperation agenda between Azerbaijan and North Macedonia, the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process and the current situation in the region were discussed.
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that the increasing provocations by Armenia against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan are aimed to prevent the advancement of the peace process. In particular, it was stated that Armenia’s provocations against the Lachin border checkpoint, which pose a threat to the establishment of stability in the region and to efforts for the reintegration of Armenian residents into Azerbaijani society, show that this country is not interested in the peace process.
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that Armenia’s allegations such as a “tense humanitarian situation in the region” and “blockade” have no basis, and that the creation of obstacles to the operation of the “Aghdam-Khankendi” road proposed by our side to meet the needs of Armenian residents also demonstrates that the issue is not of a humanitarian nature, as presented by Armenia, but is political.
Minister J. Bayramov noted the unacceptability of Armenia’s military occupation for nearly 30 years and, in the post-conflict period, its use of the Lachin road contrary to the norms of international law and its obligations for military purposes, for the transportation of our natural resources to Armenia and for the continuation of the mine threat, as well as the importance of the Lachin border checkpoint in preventing these provocative steps.
During the telephone conversation, an exchange of views was also conducted on other issues of mutual interest.
