Hajiyev noted that the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan can create real opportunities for resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and in the result, the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh, as before, can again live in peace and tranquility as part of territorial integrity, sovereignty and internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan.

“Azerbaijan has rich traditions of multiculturalism, representatives of various ethnic and religious communities have lived in the country in peace and prosperity since ancient times,” he said.

“Azerbaijan promotes these values at the national and international levels, while Armenia is a mono-ethnic state,” he added. “The entire international community is aware and well informed about the crimes committed by the Armenian side in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, including the crimes committed in Armenia itself against various ethnic minorities, as well as the indigenous Azerbaijani population. Therefore, the Armenian side should rightly assess the reality, avoid repeating the mistakes of the previous regime, and, taking constructive steps to resolve the conflict, make efforts to ensure sustainable peace in the region.”

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Armenia is in every way impeding the contact of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh, Deputy Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev told reporters in Baku Oct. 13.

Hajiyev noted that the leadership of Armenia resorts to various statements and puts forward claims that distort the true essence of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“These statements are absurd and absolutely far from reality,” he said. “In particular, the attempts of the Armenian leadership to link the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with human rights, or the views that Azerbaijan allegedly demands territories in Nagorno-Karabakh without the Armenian population are completely unacceptable and far from reality. The reality is that the Armenian side occupied Azerbaijani territories and carried out military aggression against Azerbaijan. As part of the aggression policy of Armenia against Azerbaijan, numerous war crimes and criminal acts were committed against humanity, and this means gross violation of international humanitarian law.”

Hajiyev noted that the Armenian side even refutes the fact of the existence of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh, and in every way impedes the contact of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“I would like to remind Armenia that all international documents on human rights clearly and unequivocally indicate that exercising any other rights when human rights are violated is absolutely unacceptable, and this is the wrong approach,” he added. “It is enshrined in all documents on the protection of human rights that these rights are universal in nature, and should be equally ensured. It is obvious that such assertions of Armenia are nothing more than hiding the fact of aggression and occupation. Armenia is taking steps to deceive and mislead the international community.”

Hajiyev added that the fact that such appeals of Armenia coincided with these days is not accidental.

“That’s because an event called the Francophonie Summit is taking place in Armenia, and in this context, Yerevan aims to deceive the international community,” Hajiyev said. “However, all these steps are being taken in vain. The international community strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan as part of internationally recognized borders, the Azerbaijani positions in this direction are constantly being strengthened, and this is supported by the documents adopted by international organizations. Armenia should put an end to destructive actions in this direction and take constructive steps to resolve the conflict.”

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