Azerbaijan responds to Armenian PM's "non-aggression pact"

The statements made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are aimed at diverting attention from the process of the draft bilateral peace treaty.

Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizada has said that the statements made by Pashinyan are aimed at diverting attention from the process of the draft bilateral peace treaty and the establishment of interstate relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Caliber.Az reports.

Hajizada was commenting on Pashinyan’s speech on the occasion of Army Day, during which he proposed to sign a non-aggression pact and apply the mutual arms control mechanism.

“Although from the very beginning of the discussion of the draft agreement, Baku called on the Armenian side to put an end to the ongoing encroachments on Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, which were reflected in the Constitution of Armenia, in several decisions of its legislative body, in the appeals to international organisations and courts after the 44-day second Karabakh war, Armenia has not taken any steps. The Armenian side, instead of taking measures, voices proposals that have no practical meaning, which causes misunderstanding,” he said.

Hajizada noted that everyone knows that during 30 years Armenia grossly violated its obligations as part of arms control mechanisms and international treaties that recognised Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, committed aggressive actions against Azerbaijan, and hid most of its military equipment from international arms control mechanisms. Armenia illegally kept weapons in the previously occupied Azerbaijani territories.

“Taking all this into account, as well as the fact that Armenia is pursuing a policy of militarisation, stated by Pashinyan, signing contracts for the supply of weapons worth several billion dollars, developing its military industry, the statements made by the Armenian prime minister that Yerevan is serious about the peace process are nothing but political manipulation. Such statements impede further development and progress in the region based on respect for the norms and principles of international law. Azerbaijan, in turn, will continue making its peacekeeping efforts and expects adequate steps from Armenia not in words, but in deeds,” he added.