(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 27. The presented
approach towards the situation in the region by High Representative
of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep
Borrel is regrettable, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's
Spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada said, trend reports.
Hajizada made the remark, commenting on the July 26 statement by
Borrell about the situation in the region.
"Azerbaijan highly appreciates the support of the European Union
to establish peace and stability in the region, as well as the
peace negotiations with Armenia, he said in his recent statement,
based on the propaganda and political manipulations spread by
Armenia. Nevertheless, the presented approach towards the situation
in the region by High Representative Josep Borrel in his July 26
statement, based on the propaganda and political manipulations
spread by Armenia, is regrettable," he noted.
According to the spokesperson, ignoring the grievances of
Azerbaijan regarding the incomplete withdrawal of the Armenian
armed forces from the territory of Azerbaijan [contrary to the
trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian
leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war], which continue to
be a threat to Azerbaijan's national security, territorial
integrity, and sovereignty after the second Karabakh war, illegal
activities of Armenia via the Lachin-Khankendi road, transportation
of ammunition and landmines to the territories of Azerbaijan, as
well as the transfer of the natural resources of Azerbaijan to
Armenia, and presenting the legitimate acts of Azerbaijan as the
closure of the Lachin-Khankendi road is fundamentally wrong.
"Similarly, it must be made clear that the blatant
misinterpretation of the relevant decisions of the International
Court of Justice will not yield results. The July 6 decision of the
Court, confirming the right of Azerbaijan to control its borders
and proving the baseless nature of Armenia's request for the
removal of the Lachin border checkpoint, once more demonstrated
that the protection of its own security by Azerbaijan is
legitimate," Hajizada also said.
He reminded us that despite the protests since December of last
year against the illegal acts of Armenia, hundreds of vehicles,
including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
vehicles, have passed through the Lachin-Khankendi road daily, and
a well-regulated and transparent daily passage in both directions
through the Lachin border checkpoint was ensured even after its
installation.
"Moreover, despite the armed attack on the checkpoint on June
15, smuggling attempts, and the provocation by the dispatch of
convoys under the disguise of "humanitarian aid" on July 26,
Azerbaijan continues its cooperation with the ICRC, provides the
passage of Armenian residents for medical purposes, and facilitates
the transport of medical supplies by the ICRC," the official also
noted. "Coming to the transportation of large amounts of cargo to
Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan made a proposal to utilize
"Aghdam-Khankendi" and other alternative routes, taking into
account threats originating from Armenia."
Despite the fact that this proposal of Azerbaijan is being
supported by international partners, including the European Union
and the ICRC, the obstacles and prevention of transportation of
goods by blocking the roads by Armenia and those who present
themselves as representatives of the Armenian residents are clear
proof that the speculations on the "tense humanitarian situation"
are nothing but political manipulation, Hajizada pointed out.
"Azerbaijan, besides being committed to its international
obligations, will resolutely prevent attempts to legitimize illegal
activity on its territories," he added.
The peaceful protest on the Lachin-Khankendi road against the
illegal exploitation of Azerbaijan's mineral resources in the area
of Russian peacekeepers' temporary deployment has been going on
since December 12, 2022.
In order to prevent the transportation of manpower, ammunition,
mines, as well as other military equipment from Armenia for illegal
Armenian armed groups on the territory of Azerbaijan (which weren't
withdrawn contrary to the trilateral statement signed by
Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second
Karabakh war), and as an adequate response to the unilateral
establishment of a checkpoint by Armenia on the border with
Azerbaijan on April 22 at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankendi road
contrary to the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020, on April
23 at 12:00 (GMT+4), the units of the State Border Service of the
Republic of Azerbaijan set up a border checkpoint in its sovereign
territories, on the border with Armenia, at the beginning of the
Lachin-Khankendi road.
On June 15, 2023, as a result of opening fire from the territory
of Armenia, a serviceman of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan,
Elshan Rustamov, who served at the Lachin checkpoint, was
injured.