14 April 2023 22:24

On 14 April 2023, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Khalaf Khalafov delivered a speech at the restricted-format meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) held in the city of Samarkand.

In his speech, the Deputy Minister emphasized that our country attaches importance to mutually beneficial partnership within the framework of the CIS and to the continuation of productive interaction at the level of heads of government, as well as foreign ministries.

It was stated during the speech that, along with issues of interaction within the CIS, it is a mechanism of political consultations where topical issues of security in the modern world and the fight against new challenges and threats are discussed. It was emphasized that, in the current difficult international conditions, the CIS countries continue to expand cooperation, especially in the fields of education, science, culture, healthcare, youth and sports.

The Deputy Minister then spoke about Azerbaijan’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the consequences of the former conflict, including strengthening peace and security in the region, the projects implemented by the Government of Azerbaijan for the purpose of large-scale restoration and development of the liberated territories, and the process of reintegration of residents of Armenian origin.

Stating that, against the background of the positive steps taken by Azerbaijan, Armenia, on the contrary, continues to escalate the situation, the Deputy Minister spoke about the attempts of Armenia to undermine the consistent efforts of Azerbaijan and the international community as a whole towards the establishment of peace between the two countries and the normalization of relations by using various provocative actions. In this regard, the Deputy Minister stated that on 11 April, as a result of intensive firing by units of the Armenian armed forces from the direction of Digh village of Gorus district of Armenia at the positions of the Azerbaijan Army in the territory of Lachin district of the Republic of Azerbaijan, servicemen of the Azerbaijan Army were martyred and wounded.

The Deputy Minister emphasized to the meeting participants that such provocations by Armenia against the backdrop of serious calls by the international community for negotiations on a peace agreement are a clear example of its lack of interest in the peace process.

In his speech, clarifying the issue regarding the assumptions of the Armenian side that the Lachin road was allegedly blocked by Azerbaijan, the Deputy Minister emphasized that the illegal exploitation of Azerbaijan’s natural resources, the transportation of these resources to Armenia, and cases of abuse of the Lachin road, which is intended purely for humanitarian purposes, are unacceptable. He stated that such activities in the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan pose a serious threat to the security and integrity of the Azerbaijani state.

In this regard, the Deputy Minister emphasized that Azerbaijan expects Armenia to ensure all provisions of the Trilateral Statement dated 10 November 2020, as well as the Prague and Sochi agreements, especially the withdrawal of illegal Armenian armed formations from the territories of Azerbaijan where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily deployed, as well as to take real steps towards the opening of transport communications, continuation of the negotiation process on the delimitation of the state border, and the normalization of relations between the two countries.