Dublin - In an interview published by the Ireland-based website 'The Journal', Elin Suleymanov, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ireland and the UK, expressed his criticisms of the European Parliament's accusation of Azerbaijan committing ethnic cleansing in Karabakh. He emphasized that the narrative surrounding Karabakh "needs to change."

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Suleymanov labeled the Parliament's claims as an "emotional decision" and stressed Azerbaijan's aim to cooperate with the EU as equal partners, without being "lectured and have fingers pointed at". The United Nations had dispatched a monitoring mission to the area in early October, noting the region as largely vacant. However, the UN refrained from using the term "ethnic cleansing" and highlighted that no reports of civilian harm emerged after the recent truce. The UN also indicated its plans for additional visits to the region. On the matter, Suleymanov remarked, "Our objective is to build a region where we can all live in peace and cooperate with each other towards a more prosperous future for all of us."

Furthermore, he questioned the Armenian ambassador's continuous focus on the Karabakh region and stated that between 800,000 and 900,000 Azerbaijanis had been forced out of the area during the 1990s. He emphasized that Azerbaijan doesn't wish to replicate what was done to them in the past. Commenting on the ongoing tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the recent joint military exercises between Azerbaijan and Trkiye near the Armenian border, Suleymanov insisted that these drills are standard and drew attention to Armenia's recent defensive military equipment procurement from France, adding, "Azerbaijan has to be prepared."