Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev summoned US ambassador Robert Cekuta to the Foreign Ministry and handed over to him the country’s note of protest, the Foreign Ministry told on Dec.15.

The note expressed Azerbaijan’s strong protest with regard to the participation of James Warlick, the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, on 9 December 2015 in the event, organized in Washington, D.C. by the Armenian embassy in the US, Armenian lobby organizations and the co-chairs of the U.S. Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and dedicated to the so-called “anniversary of Artsakh’s independence”, and Warlick’s meeting with Karen Mirzoyan, presenting himself as the “foreign minister” of the so-called “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic” created in Azerbaijan’s territories occupied by Armenia.

Furthermore, it was stressed that participation of the US co-chair of the OSCE MG in such events, which are directed against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, violates the mandate of the OSCE MG co-chairs, casts doubt on its neutrality and impartiality and contradicts the official policy of the US Government not recognizing as legitimate the situation created through the use of force against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, accompanied by the notorious practice of ethnic cleansing on a massive scale and other flagrant violations of the norms and principles of international law.

It was also stated that the ministry on a number of occasions drew the attention of the Department of State that providing conditions for the agents of the unlawful regime to engage in public campaigns and other activities on the American soil does not assist advancing the peace process for the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan armed conflict and complicates the already difficult conflict settlement.

The note also reflected the ministry’s expectation that the United States as a responsible actor on the international arena will comply with its international obligations and implementation of the UN Security Council’s 822, 853, 874, 884 resolutions and will enforce its policy of non-recognition as legitimate of the situation.

Ambassador Robert Cekuta assured that the note, reflecting Azerbaijan’s concerns and protest, will be delivered to the US Department of State.

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