The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has commented on the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia dated December 13, 2022, APA reports.

“We categorically reject the unfounded statement of the Armenian Foreign Ministry dated December 13, 2022, in which the Azerbaijani side is accused of the current situation on the Shusha-Lachin road. The accusation by Armenian Foreign Ministry

of the Azerbaijani side of blocking the Lachin road and violating the tripartite statement is nothing but cynicism. We have repeatedly spoken about Armenia’s failure to comply with the provisions of the statement signed by the leaders of the three countries on November 10, 2020. In violation of paragraph 4, the armed forces of Armenia have not yet been withdrawn from the territory of Azerbaijan, in violation of paragraph 6, the Lachin corridor is used both for military provocations and for illegal economic activities, in violation of paragraph 9, Armenia hinders the opening of all transport and communication routes in the region.

With regard to the allegations that the Lachin road was closed and that Armenian residents living in the area faced the threat of a humanitarian crisis, we note that the Lachin road was closed not by Azerbaijani protesters, but by the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation, which is temporarily deployed on the territory of Azerbaijan Republic. The Azerbaijani side is ready to meet the humanitarian needs of all residents of Armenian origin living in our territories, and the claims of the Armenian side are groundless.

The protest action, which is being held by representatives of Azerbaijani civil society and environmental activists on the Shusha-Lachin road, is the result of the legitimate concern of the Azerbaijani public with illegal activities, looting of natural resources and environmental damage in the territories of Azerbaijan where Russian peacekeepers are deployed.

As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan said a few days ago, since December 3 this year, a delegation of representatives of relevant state structures has held talks with the command of the peacekeeping contingent regarding the illegal exploitation of mineral deposits in the territories of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is deployed. It was required to monitor the Gyzylbulag gold and Demirli copper-molybdenum deposits, stop illegal exploitation, assess possible risks to the environment and eliminate the consequences of the damage caused.

In accordance with the agreement reached, on December 10, representatives of Azerbaijan tried to visit these areas, but this visit was prevented. All this caused a protest of the Azerbaijani people.

At the same time, we remind the Armenian Foreign Ministry, which accuses Azerbaijan of “violating international law”, “ethnic cleansing” and “policy of genocide”, that Armenia violated all the norms and principles of international law, kept Azerbaijani territories under occupation for almost 30 years, committed massacre of hundreds of civilians in Khojaly, as well as in other cities of Azerbaijan, expelled about 1 million Azerbaijanis from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, and it is Armenia that still does not withdraw its illegal armed formations from the territories of Azerbaijan.

The transportation of mines produced by Armenia in 2021 to our territories, the continued targeted mining of our territories, affects the large-scale reconstruction work carried out in the post-conflict period. As a result of the ongoing provocations of Armenia since the end of the Second Karabakh War of 2020, 268 of our citizens have been injured by mine explosions, 45 people have died, including 3 journalists. Of the 45 dead, 35 were civilians.

As for the groundless calls for “creating an international mechanism for ensuring the rights and security of Armenians”, we note that the issue of the rights and security of Armenians living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan is an internal affair of Azerbaijan. Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan, and the rights and security of the population of Armenian origin living in this region will be ensured in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan fully fulfills its obligations and strongly demands that Armenia also fulfill these obligations. Unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan, which is the initiator of the peace agenda, is not interested in escalating tension in the region. Azerbaijan ensures the security and integrity of its territories on legal grounds.

The Armenian side must put an end to statements and actions against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Source: Azeri-Press News Agency