(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Sabina Mammadli read more Azerbaijani Ambassador to France Leyla Abdullayeva has denied
reports about the blockade of the Lachin road and revealed the
purpose of the ongoing protests near Shusha, Azernews reports,
citing her interview with the French website Revue Conflits.
The Azerbaijani environmental activists have been picketing the
road in protest at the illegal military and commercial activities,
including the illegal exploitation of natural resources that cause
serious damage to the environment.
'The road is not closed! Trucks are passing through it; there
are many videos showing the free movement of peacekeepers' trucks,
and vehicles of the ICRC. Azerbaijan has even created 'hotlines' so
that Armenian residents can call in case of emergency. The
Azerbaijani government wants to emphasize that, if necessary, it is
ready to help and respond to their humanitarian needs,' the
ambassador specified.
Besides, the ambassador once again recalled that in accordance
with the tripartite statement, the Lachin-Khankandi road should be
used for humanitarian purposes. She added that despite the
obligations taken under the statement, Armenia has been using this
road to transfer weapons, mines, and military personnel to the
territory of Azerbaijan for the last two years.
'Over the past period, over 2,700 Armenian-made mines have been
found on the territory of Azerbaijan. These mines were produced in
2021, in the period after the signing of the tripartite
declaration. Armenians transported anti-personnel mines along the
road to prevent the return of former Azerbaijani IDPs to their
native lands. After the Armenian occupation in 1994, hundreds of
thousands of Azerbaijanis were displaced from these territories,”
she underlined.
The diplomat stressed Azerbaijan's intention to restore this
region as soon as possible and allow the quick return of IDPs,
noting that Armenia does not want to accept the post-conflict
situation, so it continues to transfer weapons, militants, and
mines to the territory of Azerbaijan in order to prevent the return
of former internally displaced persons.
She also added that Azerbaijan considered Armenians living in
Khankandi as its own citizens, thus promising to ensure their
rights in accordance with the country's constitution.
Abdullayeva emphasized Azerbaijan's initiative to normalize
relations with Armenia after the end of the second Karabakh war and
a proposal to sign a peace treaty against the backdrop of the mass
destruction of Azerbaijan's heritage during the occupation.
She then outlined that although the leaders of the two countries
have frequently met in Brussels, Prague, and Sochi nearing the
signing of the peace treaty, Armenian provocations prevented it
every time.
“For example, in September, the situation on the
Azerbaijani-Armenian border escalated. The Armenians tried to plant
mines on the territory of Azerbaijan, and we reacted to this
aggression,' the ambassador added.
Following discussions with the command of the Russian
peacekeeping contingent on December 3 and 7, 2022, Azerbaijani
specialists from the Ministries of Economy, Ecology, and Natural
Resources, the State Service for Property Issues under the Ministry
of Economy, and AzerGold Company were to conduct primary monitoring
on illegal exploitation of mineral deposits on Azerbaijani
territory. However, the monitoring failed due to the provocation of
ethnic Armenians.
After the Russian peacekeepers' failure to provide the necessary
conditions for the Azerbaijani agency representatives to carry out
their duties in the area, a group of eco-activists, NGOs, and
public representatives have taken to the street in protest at the
peacekeepers' repugnance to live up to their obligations in line
with the November 10, 2020, peace deal to maintain peace and order
in the region, and oust the Armenian troops from the region and
prevent illegalities. However, time proved that the Russian
peacekeepers are driven by the interests of Russia rather than the
idea coming from the essence of the notion of peacekeeping as
universally understood.
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Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews' staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @sabinammdl