"Starting from noon on July 12, units of the armed forces of Armenia, grossly violating the ceasefire in the direction of Azerbaijan’s Tovuz district along the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border, opened artillery fire at Azerbaijani positions. As a result of the Armenian provocation, eleven Azerbaijani soldiers, including one major general, and a civilian have been martyred. The Armenian armed forces, which suffered from losses as a result of measures taken by the Azerbaijani armed forces were suppressed ," Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov noted. 

"Such provocation by Armenia aims to expand the scope of the occupation and make the civilian population living on the border area IDPs, " Khalafov added. 

Khalafov also stated that this provocative action should be considered as continuation of the recent actions and statements by Armenia which serve to increase tensions in the region. 

The Deputy Minister said: "The Armenian supporters in France, especially in Paris, who were concerned over Armenia's failure in committing provocation could not hide their hostility against Azerbaijan. On the night of July 13-14, radical groups attacked the Azerbaijani embassy and the Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Paris by committing an act of vandalism against the embassy building." 

Khalaf Khalafov noted that Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan expresses its protest against this incident demanding an investigation on the act of vandalism and a legal assessment of the perpetrators. 

Deputy Foreign Minister asked the French government to take necessary measures to protect the buildings of the Azerbaijani diplomatic mission in Paris.

"As the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, France should take real steps to settle the conflict, as well as prevent any activities of some representatives of French election bodies in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan under the name of "humanitarian projects," Khalaf Khalafov said. 

The Deputy Minister reiterated that the latest incidents cast a shadow to the essence of the negotiations mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and call in question the role of Minsk Group and its activity. He stated that Azerbaijani people have serious concerns over Minsk Group's activity. They said that instead of openly calling on Armenia to end its aggressive policy and adhere to the norms and principles of international law, the Minsk Group co-chairs are always issuing a general statement.

K.Khalafov stressed that artificial perpetuation of the conflict resolution process will lead to new risks and challenges threatening regional stability and security, as well as, to large-scale regional conflicts. 

He said that by committing these criminal acts, the Republic of Armenia has demonstrated its persistence on pursuing its aggressive policy, which has lasted for 30 years and occupying more than 20% of Azerbaijani territories.

Khalafov said that the development of events in this direction was caused by the loyal attitude of the international organization and influential states, which are carrying out a mediation mission in the peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, to the aggressor Armenia and turning a blind eye of the international community for the crimes committed by Armenia.

"Armenia bears full responsibility for such provocative actions that serve to aggravate the situation. The current situation requires Azerbaijan to take immediate measures to stop the aggression and liberate the occupied territories, based on the right to self-defence enshrined in the UN Charter", he said.

The Deputy Minister said that Azerbaijan will not allow the establishment of a second Armenian state on its territory or the annexation of the occupied territories to Armenia.

The French ambassador to Azerbaijan expressed his deep regret and concern over the events that took place on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border since July 12 and expressed his condolences to the Azerbaijani side.

The ambassador assured that he understood the concerns of the Azerbaijani state and people, and that his country, as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, would continue its efforts to resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict peacefully.

He promised to convey to Paris clearly the concerns and expectations of the Azerbaijani side in connection with the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, as well as the act of vandalism against the Azerbaijani embassy in Paris.

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