Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Comments on Azerbaijani Foreign Minister's Statements Made in the Khatayi Region

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has no words to address his isolated society other than bringing forward the image of a 'useful enemy'. This statement was made by the spokesperson for the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Anna Naghdalyan, in response to the comments made by Azerbaijan's foreign minister in the Khatayi region.

According to the press release from the department of information and public diplomacy of the Armenian foreign ministry, a question was raised regarding Aliyev's recent historical excursus directed at Armenia and the Armenian people, along with his comments on Armenia's internal processes, the Nagorno-Karabakh peace settlement, and criticism of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship.

Question: During his visit to the Khatayi region, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev presented another historical excursus directed at Armenia and the Armenian people, along with comments regarding Armenia's internal processes, the Nagorno-Karabakh peace resolution, and criticism aimed at the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. We request your comments.

Answer: My colleagues have already commented on this matter. I would just like to add that a few weeks ago, amid the spread of coronavirus, the scornful President Aliyev has no other words to address his isolated society than bringing forward the image of a 'useful enemy'. Anti-Armenianism is the last line of defense for Aliyev's regime, and hiding behind it best characterizes the internal crisis and desperate sentiments developing in Azerbaijan.

It is absurd that a leader of a country, where political and economic power has been in the hands of one family for decades and characterized internationally as a repressive regime, gives evaluations on Armenia's internal political developments, human rights, and freedoms.

Notably, President Aliyev demonstrates irresponsible behavior and disdain primarily towards the statement made a week ago by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, which expressed concern regarding hostile and provocative rhetoric.

As Prime Minister Pashinyan stated during the recent joint meeting of the Security Councils of Armenia and Artsakh, 'Attempts to turn the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict into an indefinite large-scale Armenian-Azerbaijani enmity, where our peoples will contest everything—past, present, future, and the whole region—definitely does not serve the interests of either the Armenian or the Azerbaijani people.'