Members of diplomatic corps and military representatives accredited in Azerbaijan have visited Aghdam, APA’s Karabakh office reports.

The delegation included about 100 diplomats and military personnel from 45 countries and 12 international organizations.

As part of the visit, foreign diplomats and military representatives were informed that the Aghdam-Khankandi road is open for use.

Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, Hikmat Hajiyev informed the guests about the road.

He noted that after the liberation of Azerbaijani lands, the first thing to do was the construction of roads under the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev.

These roads are also built in the direction of the territories where Armenians live in Garabagh. Azerbaijan is also building railways and roads in the direction of Armenia. This shows that Azerbaijan builds roads, not walls and roadblocks. Azerbaijan considers the Aghdam-Khankandi road as part of the integration of the Armenian residents of Garabagh into the political, social, economic and cultural life of Azerbaijan. Apart from serving integration, this road is more profitable in terms of transportation opportunities. Along with the delivery of goods from the main part of Azerbaijan to GarabaGh, the road also provides access to the main transport-infrastructure system of Azerbaijan for residents living in Garabagh.

The delegation was informed that Azerbaijan offered to use the Fuzuli-Shusha road for the delivery of cargo and goods to the Armenian residents living in Garabagh. On August 5, an agreement was reached on the delivery of the humanitarian goods of the International Committee of the Red Cross through this road to Khankandi.

Under the agreement, the Lachin-Khankandi road was supposed to be opened 24 hours later, following the rules of the border and customs regime of Azerbaijan. However, after Azerbaijan declared that this road would be used, the Armenians started to install concrete barriers on that road. Later, the Armenians began to accuse Azerbaijan of allegedly blocking the roads. President Ilham Aliyev also stated at the Shusha Global Media Forum that Armenia is blocking roads, while Azerbaijan is opening roads and railways.

It was noted that Azerbaijan, which considers reintegration as the only option, considers the Armenian residents living in Garabagh as its citizens and is ready to ensure their rights and obligations based on its Constitution. However, in response to these goodwill steps of Azerbaijan, Armenia hinders the processes through the so-called separatist regime it created in Garabagh. At the same time, this has a negative impact on the peace treaty negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the normalization of relations between the two countries. Armenians have started an international smear campaign, but it will have no effect. Based on Armenia's request, this issue will be discussed at the UN Security Council meeting today. For twenty-five years, four resolutions of the UN Security Council regarding the occupation of Azerbaijani lands remained on the table. The UN Security Council could not find the courage to discuss the occupation of Azerbaijan's lands, but today the issue raised by Armenia is being discussed.

It was pointed out that the arguments and position of Azerbaijan, which is always open for discussions, are quite reasonable from a legal, political, and even moral point of view. Instead of apologizing to the people and state of Azerbaijan after so many destructions in Aghdam and other cities of Azerbaijan, Armenia’s involvement in such propaganda, reveals the importance of the moral side of the issue. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan supports the negotiations between the two countries towards a peace treaty and the process of normalization of relations based on the norms and principles of international law.

Azerbaijan invited the Armenian residents of Garabagh twice - once to Baku and once to Yevlakh – in order to discuss reintegration with them. Unfortunately, Armenia continued its non-constructive approach and refused these invitations. All these messages should be conveyed to Armenia by the international community. Partners contributing to the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan - the European Union, Russia, and the United States - should not allow the hard-won achievements in the negotiation process to be lost as a result of Armenia's manipulations, and should support the process of normalization of relations and negotiations.

Azerbaijan considers it important to discuss these issues here and not in other places. This road is open for the delivery of any humanitarian cargo through the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as for the transportation of needed goods from the territory of Azerbaijan, and these cargoes and goods can be delivered to Khankandi as soon as possible.

*** 11:37

Diplomatic corps members and military representatives accredited in Azerbaijan start their visit to Aghdam, APA’s Karabakh office reports.

The group consists of almost 100 diplomats and military personnel from 45 countries and 12 international organizations. The main purpose of the visit is to get visually acquainted with the current road infrastructure potential of Karabakh economic zone, especially with the Aghdam-Khankandi highway, as well as the Barda-Aghdam railway.

At the same time, visitors will get informed about the destruction caused in Aghdam during the nearly 30-year occupation period. Diplomats are expected to get acquainted with the large-scale construction works currently underway in the city.

Source: Azeri-Press News Agency