Aliyev blasts Armenia over enclave blockade
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has blamed
Armenia for keeping his country`s enclave in blockade.
``Today, Armenia, in its addresses in various places, complains of Azerbaijan having subjected it to a blockade. But, in reality, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is being kept in a blockade by Armenia,`` President Aliyev said Tuesday during his visit to Nakhchivan.
We recall that the granting of the Zangazur province, located between Nakhchivan and the rest of Azerbaijan, to Armenia by the Soviet government in the 1920s had split up Azerbaijan. During the USSR times, Nakhchivan was linked to the rest of the country by railway. However, Armenians blew up the rail line in 1989, severing the connection. Thus, Nakhchivan was blockaded by Armenia and this situation persists to this day. The autonomous republic is currently linked with Baku only by airplane flights and overland routes crossing Iran`s territory.
Aliyev told a function on the occasion of the autonomous republic`s 85th anniversary that it commands high military potential and its army is capable of properly enforcing any military order.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus republics reared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia`s territorial claims. Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally-recognized territory since the early 1990s in defiance of international law. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but over a decade of efforts by US, Russian and French mediators have been fruitless so far.
During the visit, the president closely familiarized himself with the conditions at a local military unit and the combat readiness of soldiers. Afterwards, President Aliyev examined the new military machinery and weaponry available at the military unit.
``Today, Armenia, in its addresses in various places, complains of Azerbaijan having subjected it to a blockade. But, in reality, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is being kept in a blockade by Armenia,`` President Aliyev said Tuesday during his visit to Nakhchivan.
We recall that the granting of the Zangazur province, located between Nakhchivan and the rest of Azerbaijan, to Armenia by the Soviet government in the 1920s had split up Azerbaijan. During the USSR times, Nakhchivan was linked to the rest of the country by railway. However, Armenians blew up the rail line in 1989, severing the connection. Thus, Nakhchivan was blockaded by Armenia and this situation persists to this day. The autonomous republic is currently linked with Baku only by airplane flights and overland routes crossing Iran`s territory.
Aliyev told a function on the occasion of the autonomous republic`s 85th anniversary that it commands high military potential and its army is capable of properly enforcing any military order.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus republics reared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia`s territorial claims. Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally-recognized territory since the early 1990s in defiance of international law. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but over a decade of efforts by US, Russian and French mediators have been fruitless so far.
During the visit, the president closely familiarized himself with the conditions at a local military unit and the combat readiness of soldiers. Afterwards, President Aliyev examined the new military machinery and weaponry available at the military unit.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!