Armenian MFA keeps disseminating false narratives, Baku says

On September 28, Azerbaijani Foreing Ministry strongly condemned the statement issued by Armenia’s Foreign Ministry on September 27, 2023, that openly distorts and misleads the international community about the 44-day war and measures undertaken in the aftermath of the war.

"Armenia’s Foreign Ministry disseminates false narratives in this statement while bluntly denying its responsibility for more than 30 years of military aggression and occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories, massacres, and crimes against humanity committed against Azerbaijan," the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan said in a statement, Caliber.Az reports.

"Azerbaijan’s war against Armenia’s occupation and aggression has always been a just war, and the anti-terrorism measures of Azerbaijan of this September legitimately nullified a threat coming from the illegal Armenian armed forces that are stationed in Azerbaijan in clear violation of all the norms and principles of international law," the ministry stated.

"Moreover, contrary to the lies of the MFA Armenia and unlike Armenia itself, Azerbaijan never targeted civilian Armenians.

With regard to baseless claims about unwillingness to resolve the situation through political and diplomatic means, we would like to remind the Armenian side how this country has torpedoed all the peace efforts not only during the 30 years of occupation but also during the post-conflict period.

While on September 21 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that there is no direct threat to the civilian population, dissemination by the MFA Armenia by all means that there is an 'ethnic cleansing' of local Armenians clearly demonstrates how inconsistent and false the policy and narrative of Armenia is," added the ministry.

Baku reiterated that Azerbaijan has nothing to do with the decision by local Armenians of the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan to move to Armenia or any other country.

"We are willing to create for them conditions for better livelihood than they were under the hostage of the military junta created by Armenia. Azerbaijan is determined to reintegrate Armenian residents as equal citizens and the Constitution, the national legislation of Azerbaijan, and international commitments we have undertaken provide the solid ground to this end.

We do understand how painful it is for Armenia to see the separatist regime established in the territories of Azerbaijan collapsing and disappearing before its eyes, but now it would be better for them to focus on building peace and trust with Azerbaijan based on respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty both in words and in deeds," the ministry added.