BAKU — The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has criticized the Armenian Prime Minister for his comments that purportedly demonstrate a disregard for previously agreed obligations concerning regional communications and sovereignty issues.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Aykhan Hajizada, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed concerns over the Armenian Prime Minister’s statements made during the ‘Crossroads of Peace: combining security and democracy’ forum on October 12. Hajizada highlighted that the Armenian leadership’s actions and statements, including a congratulatory message on the so-called ‘independence’ of a separatist regime on September 2, 2023, starkly contravene the commitments Armenia agreed to under the trilateral statement.

The trilateral statement, signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, includes clear provisions under Paragraph 9 regarding the opening of communications and the control over transport links, intended to facilitate peace and cooperation. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry underscored ongoing violations by Armenia, such as the failure to withdraw illegal armed units from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and the illicit transfer of weapons and military equipment through the humanitarian Lachin corridor.

Moreover, the Ministry pointed out the continuous threat posed by landmines, which Azerbaijan perceives as an act of ongoing aggression. The statement condemned the Armenian Prime Minister’s recent rhetoric on the Lachin corridor and the issue of returning refugees and internally displaced persons, labeling it as both surprising and derisive given the context of Armenia’s actions and their impact on regional stability and peace.