The statement noted that Armenia’s illegal activities in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, including the infrastructural changes, demonstrate that its allegations on the settlement of the conflict by peaceful means are nothing other than hypocrisy and misleading of international community.
“The experience of “Vardenis-Agdere” road referred to as the “northern direction”, as well as the central “Gorus-Lachin” road show that the new road planned to be constructed through Gubadli and Jabrayil districts would serve to plundering the natural and other resources of the occupied territories even more aggressively.”
In general, along with the infrastructural changes in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, Armenia carries out other illegal activities such as the destruction of cultural heritage, changing the demographic composition, pillaging of mineral recourses and etc., read the statement.
The statement pointed out that the reports prepared as a result of the fact-finding and field assessment missions conducted by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan indicate that the illegal activities constitute a serious threat to the peace process.
“The report on “The Illegal Activities in the Territories of Azerbaijan under Armenia’s occupation: Evidence from Satellite Imagery” of 2018 clearly demonstrate the wide scale of Armenian illegal actions.”
“International humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols, prohibit any illegal activities in the occupied territories.”
The statement urged the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to seriously consider the illegal activities carried out in Azerbaijani occupied territories and seriously affecting the negotiation process.
“Despite the favorable conditions for the settlement of the conflict, continuing the illegal activities by hiding behind the ceasefire regime is the next provocative attempt of Armenia to undermine the negotiation process. Therefore, all the responsibility rest with the political and military leadership of Armenia.”
“We strongly condemn the provocative actions of Armenia, which continues to commit illegal acts in the occupied territories blatantly violating the international obligations and demand the aggressor to put an end to its actions that undermine peace, security, and stability in our region and withdraw its forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan,” according to the statement.
The statement stressed that Azerbaijan retains its right to respond appropriately to such provocations of an aggressor state.
More about: MFA Nagorno-Karabakh provocation
