Artsakh's Foreign Ministry Issues Statement

In response to the thoughts expressed by Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration, regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the negotiation process, and several other issues, we find it necessary to state the following:

The Azerbaijani claims that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved and is no longer on the international agenda do not correspond to reality. Both individual states, including the co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, and representatives of various international organizations have repeatedly declared that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is unresolved and requires comprehensive resolution.

The fact that the UN Security Council discussed the situation related to the blockade of the Lachin Corridor in December 2022, which bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, refutes the Azerbaijani claims that the conflict is off the international agenda.

The official Baku's attempts to legitimize the consequences of the illegal use of force against the Republic of Artsakh and present it as a resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is an attempt to return to a period when military force prevailed over international law.

We are convinced that a comprehensive resolution of the conflict is only achievable through negotiations and based on the norms and principles of international law. By rejecting the international mechanism for dialogue with official Stepanakert, Azerbaijan is trying to avoid the implementation of potential agreements.

The involvement of the international community in dialogue between Artsakh and Azerbaijan is the only way to guarantee a comprehensive resolution of the conflict.

The Artsakh side unequivocally rejects Azerbaijan's attempts to distort the essence of the conflict and present it as an internal issue.

Amid the blockade of Artsakh, which has lasted more than 90 days, it is evident that Azerbaijan aims to create conditions for ethnic cleansing in Artsakh while excluding international intervention. That is why Azerbaijan opposes the involvement of the international community, including sending international missions to Artsakh, so that nothing and no one can obstruct its criminal plan to subject Artsakh to ethnic cleansing.

At the same time, the Azerbaijani side continues to make false accusations that Armenia has not fully withdrawn its armed forces and continues to supply weapons and ammunition to Artsakh. Such claims do not correspond to reality and aim to justify the blockade of the Lachin Corridor for over 90 days.

We emphasize that the Republic of Artsakh has a Defense Army composed of local residents, which is not contrary to any provisions of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020 and serves as the main guarantor of the safety of the Artsakh people. Azerbaijan's campaign against the Defense Army of Artsakh is motivated by Baku's desire to deprive the Artsakh Armenians of the opportunity for self-defense and resist the criminal programs of ethnic cleansing.

Azerbaijan's claims that the Lachin Corridor is open are false. It should be noted that during the hearings at the International Court of Justice, Azerbaijan had the opportunity to present all its arguments regarding the situation of the Lachin Corridor blockade; however, after thoroughly examining the arguments of the parties, the International Court of Justice obligated Azerbaijan to ensure unimpeded movement through the Lachin Corridor. We again remind that the decisions of the International Court of Justice are legally binding.