Azerbaijan slams Armenia’s proposals on communication routes as diverting attention

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada has strongly criticized Armenia's recent proposals regarding the opening of communication routes, accusing them of diverting attention from the core issue. 

Hajizada responded to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's recent article by highlighting the historical context of Armenia's actions. He pointed out that Armenia occupied Azerbaijan's internationally recognised sovereign territories for nearly 30 years, which also contributed to the blockade of Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

"It is well known that Armenia, having occupied Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized sovereign territories for nearly 30 years, and causing the blockade of Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, has not made a positive contribution to the real negotiation process for the opening of communications in the four years following the 44-day Patriotic War," Hajizada stated.

The ministry spokesperson also highlighted Armenia's failure to fulfill its written and signed obligations regarding the opening of communication links between Azerbaijan’s western regions and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

"Although Armenia is aware of its written and signed obligations regarding the opening of communications connecting Azerbaijan’s western regions with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, it has yet to fulfill them," he remarked.

Hajizada criticized Armenia's proposals, describing them as unnecessarily complex and impractical, aimed more at diverting attention from the real issue rather than contributing to a constructive resolution.

"Overall, Armenia putting forward proposals for essentially unnecessary, complex to execute, and practically lengthy routes serves to divert attention away from the process and obligations," he said.

Finally, Hajizada made it clear that if Armenia genuinely wishes to see the opening of communications, it must cease evading its obligations and take practical steps in line with the new regional realities.

"If the Armenian side is genuinely interested in the opening of communications in the region, it should not evade its obligations and must take practical steps in line with the new regional realities to facilitate the opening of communications," Hajizada concluded.

To recap, Pashinyan published an article on March 4 through the Armenpress news agency, claiming that Armenia had not unilaterally undertaken any obligations regarding the opening of communications. He also stated that Armenia was ready to open transportation and communication routes but accused Azerbaijan of using the issue as a pretext to create tensions.

By Vafa Guliyeva