The Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process was discussed at the meeting, according to the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.
Minister Bayramov once again brought to attention the position of Azerbaijan on the current situation in the region, illegal activities and threats against the steps taken by Azerbaijan to establish peace and security in the region, as well as military provocations, including obstacles to flights by Armenia.
He stressed that the allegations about the humanitarian situation in the region are completely unfounded, and are political manipulation.
It was noted that it is Azerbaijan’s sovereign right to take measures against misuse of the Lachin road for military purposes, as well as for the illegal transportation of Azerbaijan’s natural resources contrary to the obligations of Armenia according to the Trilateral Statement dated November 10, 2020. Furthermore, it was noted that the establishment of the Lachin border checkpoint by Azerbaijan was a necessary measure.
It was mentioned that the provocation committed by Armenia against the checkpoint on June 15 prevented the passage of Armenian residents despite the conditions created for a transparent, safe, and well-regulated passage of Armenian residents in both directions since the establishment of the border checkpoint. It was noted that at this time Azerbaijan provides passage through the checkpoint to Armenian residents for medical purposes.
It was noted that the Armenian side’s opposition to all proposals including the utilization of the “Aghdam-Khankendi”, as well as other alternative routes demonstrate both their insidious intentions, and confirm that the claims on the humanitarian situation are political blackmail.
Minister Bayramov emphasized that the cessation of attempts to interfere with Azerbaijan’s reintegration of Armenians living in its sovereign territories, the unconditional confirmation of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by Armenia in words and deeds, as well as the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces, which are still fully present in the territory of Azerbaijan contrary to Armenia’s obligations, are the most necessary conditions for ensuring peace in the region.
In the meantime, Minister Lavrov said the next trilateral meeting of the ministers will be held sometime this year.
“We hope that the negotiation process will continue. We understand that both Azerbaijan and Armenia are interested in using not only Russia but others as mediators,” Lavrov said.
The Russian minister also suggested launching a new phase of trilateral talks by involving the members of parliaments from the three countries.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have long been at odds over the latter’s Karabakh (Garabagh) region. Following the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991, Armenia launched a military campaign against Azerbaijan that lasted until a ceasefire deal was reached in 1994. As a result, Armenia occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territories. Over 30,000 ethnic Azerbaijanis were killed, and one million were expelled from these lands in a brutal ethnic cleansing campaign carried out by Armenia.
On September 27, 2020, the decades-old conflict between the two countries spiralled after Armenia’s forces deployed in occupied Azerbaijani lands shelled military positions and civilian settlements of Azerbaijan. During counter-attack operations, Azerbaijani forces liberated over 300 settlements, including the cities of Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Gubadli, and Shusha. The war ended in a statement signed on November 10, 2020, under which Armenia returned the occupied Aghdam, Kalbajar, and Lachin districts to Azerbaijan.
Shortly after the war, the Azerbaijani authorities voiced readiness and determination to launch negotiations with Armenia that would ultimately bring the long-awaited peace to the region. In March 2022, Baku submitted five basic principles to Yerevan, including mutual territorial integrity recognition and border delimitation activities, that should facilitate the peace process.
Caliber.Az
