Azerbaijan implements anti-terrorist measures in line with international law Baku responds to French foreign minister

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has issued a statement responding to Catherine Colonna, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France.

“Highly irresponsible remarks by Catherine Colonna, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, are aimed at distorting the facts on the ground,” Caliber.Az reports, citing the statement.

According to the Ministry, local counter-terrorism measures undertaken by the armed forces of Azerbaijan to prevent further military provocations and terror acts of the illegal Armenian armed forces within Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory were in full compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law.

“Instead of condemning the non-fulfilment of obligation on withdrawal of Armenian armed forces, and political-military provocations by Armenian leadership, including reckless congratulatory message by the Prime Minister of Armenia of 2 September addressed to the puppet regime sustained by Armenia for the last 30 years, France’s claims against Azerbaijan is nothing than emboldening separatism and revanchist forces within Armenia,“ the statement reads.

Despite its failure during previous Security Council meetings to sideline Azerbaijan, France’s yet another attempt to exploit the Security Council for its shortsighted policy in the region and ignorance of current realities definitely is detrimental, and will not yield any result for the sake of peace and security in the region, it added.

“Azerbaijan has never targeted civilian Armenians and is committed to conducting a smooth reintegration process of its ethnic Armenian residents into Azerbaijan, and providing rights and security in the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Thus, allegations by France about the non-existent “exodus” of the Armenian population is just wishful thinking by France to blame Azerbaijan yet another time,” the ministry said.

As the statement says, the soonest full disarmament and withdrawal of all illegal armed formations and disbandment of the illegal puppet regime are key to establishing conditions for meaningful dialogue between the central Government representatives and local Armenian residents on the issues of their reintegration into Azerbaijan's constitutional framework as equal citizens.

“We believe this will also positively contribute to the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.  

At a time when practical implementation of disarmament and demilitarization on the ground starts accompanied by direct dialogue between Armenian residents and central Azerbaijani officials, the consideration of the situation by the international community, especially by France should be in line with international law that is based on respect to territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries,” the ministry added.