Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Accuses Armenia Again

“Armenia’s attempt to create an image of a peace-loving country is a political manipulation,” stated Ayhan Hajiyev, the head of the press service of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commenting on the Armenian Foreign Ministry's statement today.

“The Armenian side, by referring to the borders and territorial integrity based on the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991, could better explain why it has not respected these agreements over the last 30 years and more, why it has refused to accept the borders reflected in Soviet maps, and has also 'occupied Azerbaijani territories.' It is absurd that Armenia, which does not recognize any borders, presents positions occupied by Azerbaijani soldiers as its unreleased territories three decades later and accuses Azerbaijan of occupation.”

“It is clear that countries like France, which allegedly uphold peace and compete in supplying lethal offensive weapons to Armenia, are serving to turn this country into a new center of tension and threats. Considering that this policy contributes to the potential next aggression by Armenia, it is important to refrain from such actions before it is too late,” the statement added.

It is noted that the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s statement today indicated that Azerbaijan’s reaction to Armenia-France military-technical cooperation raises questions; having a combat-ready and modern army is the sovereign right of any country. “The Republic of Armenia acknowledges the territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders of all its neighbors. Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed at the highest level to recognize each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty based on the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991. The Republic of Armenia is committed to this principle and does not claim any territory beyond its internationally recognized 29,743 square kilometers,” the statement emphasized. “The Republic of Armenia has practically proven this approach through the initiative to delineate boundaries in the Tavush region of the Republic of Armenia and the four villages in the Qazakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan. We call on Azerbaijan to end the occupation of vital regions of more than 30 Armenian villages.”

“Azerbaijan’s constant prediction of regional escalations raises concerns and substantiates analyses made by various centers that Azerbaijan will do everything to thwart the peace agreement process with Armenia, while planning new aggression against the Republic of Armenia after the COP29 summit scheduled to take place in Baku in November 2024. We draw the international community's attention to this, as well as to the fact that the proposal from official Yerevan to conclude a peace agreement has gone unanswered by official Baku for a month,” the statement concluded.