Azerbaijani MFA responds to allegations made by Armenian PM at EU Parliament

BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 17. On October 17,
2023, the statement by the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol
Pashinyan during the session at the European Parliament on another
occasion has demonstrated that Armenia is determined to further
undermine the prospects of peace agreement, while continuing
aggressive rhetoric and allegations against Azerbaijan, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan said, Trend reports.

“It is derogatory to hear such allegations from Armenia, which
claims to be as a peace-loving democratic country respecting
international law, when itself not giving up its claims against
territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

Accusations against Azerbaijan by Armenia, a country that for
almost 30 years has violated the fundamental rights of up to one
million Azerbaijanis, committed acts of genocide, and mass killings
against Azerbaijanis, on “ethnic cleansing” of local Armenians
voluntarily relocated to Armenia is unfounded and is in clear
contradiction with the reports and statements of the UN agencies
both visited the region and active in Armenia. This also
demonstrates how Prime Minister of Armenia is inconsistent with his
statements, when he himself declared on September 21st during his
address to the Armenian population that the Armenians in Garabagh
region do not face threats. At the same time, it is not surprising
to hear such contradictory statements by the Prime Minister of
Armenia bearing in mind a reputation of this country in blunt
falsification of history and facts.

While referring to the principles of independence, sovereignty,
territorial integrity and inviolability of borders, non-use of
force and non-threat of force in the document at the Granada
meeting, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan forgets that it was
Azerbaijan who presented 5 basic principles to Armenia immediately
after the 44-day war, despite Armenia has violated these principles
for more than 30 years, including 5 years of his term.

With regard to claims by the Prime Minister about so-called
“extraterritoriality” of the Lachin road, it should be recalled
that Armenia by all means misused this road in contrary to the
Trilateral Statement co-signed by Prime Minister, unlike Azerbaijan
which fulfilled its obligations in guaranteeing the security of
movement that further were ensured when Azerbaijan has established
a border checkpoint to prevent malign acts by Armenia. It should be
noted that Azerbaijan has a sovereignty over all the roads in its
territory and efforts to prove otherwise are groundless.

While Armenia itself has committed an aggression and occupied
Azerbaijan’s territories for almost 30 years, call on by Armenian
Prime Minister about measuring respect for territorial integrity
and delimitation by square kilometer is not serious. Unlike
Armenia, Azerbaijan has never had claims over territories of other
countries.

Armenia’s accusations of Azerbaijan and Türkiye in blockade has
nothing to do with reality. Armenia’s self-isolation from regional
projects due to military aggression and territorial claims is
well-known. Moreover, seems that Armenia is not willing to avert
this even following Azerbaijan’s liberation of its territories.
Armenia is well-aware that it has an obligation for organizing
unhindered movement of citizens, vehicles and cargo in both
directions, while guaranteeing security in this direction. Armenia
has also an obligation to ensure the construction of new transport
communications connecting the western regions of Azerbaijan with
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Unfortunately, on another occasion
this country is missing the opportunity. The agreement on the
construction of a road and railway, which will connect Azerbaijan
to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the territory of the
Islamic Republic of Iran, once again shows that, unlike Armenia,
Azerbaijan is constantly making a positive contribution to the
development of transport corridors in the region using alternative
routes.

While historical opportunities emerged for the normalization of
relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the transformation of
the South Caucasus region into a place of peace and cooperation
following Azerbaijan has eliminated the threat emanating from
Armenian puppet regime and illegal armed forces in Garabagh region,
continuing aggressive rhetoric by the Prime Minister of Armenia
undermines the peace prospects,” the statement reads.