“Armenia’s relying on the status quo is a historical mistake”

“Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian tried to distort the true nature of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict,” the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told.

Delivering a speech at the meeting, member of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the OSCE said that Azerbaijan is committed to the settlement process of the conflict and supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group in this regard.

“Armenia should immediately start comprehensive and structured negotiations in response to the challenges of the international community and presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries. As agreed at the meeting of the presidents in Paris, exchange of information about missing persons should be provided under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Armenian side should immediately release our compatriots Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, who were illegally taken hostage. Armenia's activity in the conflict zone hinders the achievement of progress in the negotiations. Armenia's main goal is to maintain the status quo and continue the occupation of Azerbaijani territories,” the ministry noted.

It was noted that the presence of Armenian armed forces in the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan remains the most serious obstacle to achieving progress in the negotiations, as well as create an atmosphere of trust in the conflict zone. This is the only reason for the escalation of tension and intensification of firefights along the front line and the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

“The withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from occupied Azerbaijani territories will significantly strengthen the trust between the conflicting parties, open up new opportunities in the negotiation process and create necessary conditions for the restoration of an atmosphere of trust, the rehabilitation of the conflict-affected areas and the return of Azerbaijani IDPs to their homes after the demilitarization of the conflict zone. Obviously, the sooner we start the restoration of dialogue between Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of the conflict-affected Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, the sooner new chances will appear for a peaceful coexistence of the two communities. Armenia’s relying on the status quo is a historical mistake. All OSCE member states should force Armenia to withdraw its troops from occupied Azerbaijani territories and start work on a great peace agreement,” the ministry underlined.