Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry Responds to Armenia's Foreign Ministry, Rejecting Its Statement

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has responded to the Armenian Foreign Ministry's statement from August 3, which alleges that Azerbaijani armed forces, once again violating the trilateral agreement on ceasefire signed on November 9, 2020, have carried out aggression in the area of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers, leading to casualties and injuries.

In response, Azerbaijan's foreign agency stated, "We categorically reject the Armenian Foreign Ministry's August 3 statement, which unjustly (quotes added by Tert.am) accuses the Azerbaijani side. It should be reminded that Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that the provisions of the statement signed by the leaders of the three countries on November 10, 2020, have not been implemented, particularly that 'Armed formations of Armenia' (quotes added by Tert.am) have not yet been withdrawn from Azerbaijan's 'territories' (quotes added by Tert.am). According to Article 4 of the trilateral statement, the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation is deployed in parallel with the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces...

We emphasize that the recent tension is caused by the presence of 'illegal armed groups' (quotes added by Tert.am) of Armenia in 'Azerbaijani territory' (quotes added by Tert.am) and their 'provocations' (quotes added by Tert.am)...

Regarding point 6 of the trilateral statement that accuses Azerbaijan of violating it, we inform the Armenian FM that the construction of a new road along the Lachin corridor has already been underway for months in accordance with the agreed route, and the Armenian side is quite informed about this road...

Below we present yesterday’s statement from the Armenian FM: 'On August 3 this year, Azerbaijani armed forces, once again violating the trilateral agreement on ceasefire signed on November 9, 2020, have carried out aggression in the area of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers, leading to casualties and injuries. Despite the steps taken by the Armenian side towards achieving stability and peace in the region, Azerbaijan continues its planned policy of terrorizing the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, subjecting it to ethnic cleansing, and creeping occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh.'

We recall that such acts of aggression and ceasefire violations include the illegal advance of Azerbaijani armed forces towards the village of Parukh on March 24 of this year, and the attacks on the villages of Khtsaberd and Hin Tagher on December 11, 2020, which also fall within the area of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh.

We deem unacceptable the statements from the Azerbaijani side attempting to unilaterally change the legal regime defined by point 6 of the trilateral statement in the Lachin corridor, reiterating that the route passing through the Lachin corridor can only be altered in accordance with plans approved by the signatory parties. As clearly defined in the November 9 statement, a new plan for constructing a road ensuring the communication between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh through the Lachin corridor will be determined in agreement with the (i.e., Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan) parties within the next three years, along with the further redeployment of Russian peacekeepers for the protection of that route.

We emphasize that there is currently no such plan established in a trilateral format, and we call on all parties of the trilateral statement to fulfill their commitments, and immediately take steps to implement the conditions established in the November 9 statement, including maintaining the ceasefire, opening regional communications, and returning prisoners of war, hostages, and other detained individuals.

We find it necessary to again state that the Republic of Armenia has fulfilled all its commitments. The non-implementation of several points of the November 9 trilateral statement is due to Azerbaijan’s arbitrary interpretations and its ongoing aggressive rhetoric and actions. The Republic of Armenia, reaffirming its commitment to the agenda of establishing peace and stability in the region, calls on the international community to take measures to halt Azerbaijan's aggressive stance and actions, and to activate necessary international mechanisms for this purpose.'