MFA: Armenia should take results-oriented steps in Karabakh conflict settlement
By Abdul Kerimkhanov
The attempts to change the negotiations format and provocations on the line of contact is a vivid example of how the new authorities in Armenia are trying to earn dividends, following the lead of local nationalists.
Having failed to achieve the desired results in diplomacy, Armenia carried out another crime last week, killing an officer of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Moreover, the Armenian side shamelessly tried to accuse Azerbaijan of committing this provocation.
Also, Armenian MFA made threats misleadingly stating that "Azerbaijan will be fully responsible for the risks of further escalation".
Armenia should not waste time searching for any other fraudulent reasons and should take results-oriented steps in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement in accordance with the demands of the international community, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has said in a message.
The statement says that the reason for such an emotional and at the same time controversial statement by the Armenian Foreign Ministry on the current situation on the contact line of the Azerbaijani and Armenian armed forces is understandable. "Most probably it’s within the line of Armenian authorities’ reaction to the current domestic situation in the country," the ministry stated.
The MFA further reminded that Armenia agreed to the next meeting at the level of foreign ministers.
"However, the reality remains unchanged; the Armenian Armed Forces must be withdrawn from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan," said in a message.
The MFA noted that regardless of who will lead Armenia in the future, there is no other alternative for the further development of the region.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that the Armenian side should recognize that the only cause of human losses, disasters and mutual disagreements is the aggressive policy of Armenia, the occupation of Azerbaijani territories and the policy of ethnic cleansing of local Azerbaijanis living in these territories.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94
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