Azernews.Az

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's recent statement on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict has drawn a terse response from the Azerbaijani government.
"When sending a message to Azerbaijan on the impossibility of resolving the Garabagh conflict through military action, Sergei Lavrov should not forget that Armenian armed forces have occupied Garabagh," the Foreign Ministry spokesman Khazar Ibrahim told a news conference on Monday.
Lavrov said last week while commenting on the outcomes of his meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian that the long-standing dispute could be resolved through talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group (MG), without exceptions.
Lavrov, who is known for his pro-Armenian stance and his relation to Armenians, said while speaking on behalf of the MG co-chairmen that there was no military solution to the conflict.
But Ibrahim said that in stating his views on the Garabagh problem, Lavrov could not speak on behalf of the co-chairs.
"We see no need to hold consultations in this respect, as there are two parties in the negotiating process and mediators. That is the format that we are negotiating in.
"On the other hand, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian's going to Russia and holding talks there is naturally their full and sovereign right. However, Lavrov's statement on Garabagh should have been backed up by a relevant message to Armenia."
The spokesman said Russia should demand that Armenia pull out its occupying forces from Azerbaijani land.
"The only party seeking a military option to settle the conflict is Armenia. For this very purpose it has occupied Azerbaijani territories. Therefore, a logical question arises as to why Russia would not put forth this demand," Ibrahim concluded.