Azerbaijani FM: Armenian military exercises in occupied Agdam is serious provocation
By Rashid Shirinov
Armenia's military exercises held in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan’s Agdam region is a serious provocation aimed at undermining the negotiation process over the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said.
He made the remark during his meeting with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier in the framework of the 71st Regular Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry stated on September 22.
Azerbaijan is ready for substantive negotiations to change the current status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mammadyarov noted.
FM also stressed that Armenia continues to carry out destructive policy to prevent the negotiation process on settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
On September 20, Armenian Armed Forces began military exercises in the occupied territory of Azerbaijani Agdam region. According to media reports, Armenian troops hold exercises in Agdam using armored vehicles and artillery.
The meeting also discussed the development of practical cooperation between Azerbaijan and the OSCE.
Lamberto Zannier noted that the OSCE intends to continue the practical cooperation.
Mammadyarov, in turn, stressed the desirability of cooperation on the development of transport and energy corridors.
Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to this day.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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