Azerbaijani presidential aide slams geopolitical "plotters" eyeing South Caucasus

Assistant to the Azerbaijani President and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department under the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev has pointed to forces that want to transfer their geopolitical intrigues to the South Caucasus.

"As the Azerbaijani President said, the Karabakh problem no longer exists. Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty based on the norms and principles of international law," the presidential assistant told Azerbaijani journalists at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum-2024, APA reports.

According to him, Azerbaijan's vision is that sustainable peace and tranquillity should be ensured in the South Caucasus region.

"Azerbaijan is the author of this initiative. It was the Republic of Azerbaijan that drafted and presented the draft peace treaty. However, unfortunately, some forces pursue a policy of militarization, incite an arms race, try to create new dividing lines in the region, and also want to transfer their geopolitical intrigues existing outside the South Caucasus region to the region. Certain forces are trying to develop the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan not as a border but as some kind of confrontation line, which is regrettable. We expect Armenia not to repeat the mistakes of the past years, and to pursue a policy that will serve sustainable peace in the region. This is the intention of Azerbaijan," Hajiyev noted.

Meanwhile, addressing the panel discussion on "Peace, Development, and Connectivity in the South Caucasus" on the fringes of the 3rd Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Hikmat Hajiyev said that Baku is waiting for Yerevan's decision on its territorial claims.

“Azerbaijan expects clarifications from Armenia on legal and constitutional documents, which still contain the element of 'miatsum', as well as other territorial claims," he said.