21 September 2023 03:00

On 19 September 2023, a meeting was held between Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen within the framework of his working visit to New York to participate in the opening of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.

During the meeting, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov informed his counterpart about the 30-year occupation of our territories by Armenia, and the consistent steps taken by Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period towards the normalization of bilateral relations with Armenia and the implementation of restoration and construction works in the liberated territories.

The Minister also informed his Finnish counterpart about the latest situation in the region and the local anti-terror operation launched by Azerbaijan, and presented the factors that necessitated this operation.

Minister J. Bayramov emphasized that Armenia’s failure to fully withdraw its armed forces from the territory of Azerbaijan, in gross violation of international law and paragraph four of the Trilateral Statement of 10 November 2020, and its continued support and encouragement of separatism against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan by all possible political, military, financial and ideological means, is the main cause of tension in the region.

It was noted that military provocations by Armenia and the illegal regime created by it in the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan have particularly intensified in recent days, military build-up activities have become large-scale, and the continuous strengthening of combat positions has been observed, all of which indicate that the Armenian armed formations illegally stationed in the territory of Azerbaijan are preparing for another large-scale military provocation.

Lastly, it was emphasized that on 18 September, as a result of the explosion of mines planted by reconnaissance-sabotage groups of illegal Armenian armed formations, 6 people, including employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs serving in the area, as well as civilians involved in restoration works, were killed and 6 people were seriously injured.

It was noted that the local anti-terror operation carried out by the Armed Forces is being conducted exclusively against legitimate military targets and is aimed at neutralizing Armenia’s illegal military infrastructure.

Minister J. Bayramov emphasized that during the operation, all measures have been taken to prevent harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The Minister expressed confidence that, as a result of the anti-terror operations, measures to withdraw Armenian armed forces from our territories and measures for the reintegration of Armenian residents within the constitutional order of Azerbaijan will also have a positive impact on the peace process with Armenia.

As the Azerbaijani side has repeatedly stated, it is determined to ensure all rights and freedoms, as well as the security, of Armenian residents of the Garabagh Economic Region on the basis of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the international human rights mechanisms to which it is a party.

During the meeting, an exchange of views was conducted on other international and regional issues of mutual interest.