Azerbaijani MFA says establishment of border checkpoint based on international law

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has “flatly” rejected the statement made by the Armenian foreign ministry on the establishment of a checkpoint on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border by the Azerbaijani side at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road on April 23. 

"The mentioned statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia is another attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan and is unacceptable. Such statements of the Armenian side, interfering in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan, not only do not contribute to peace and tranquillity in the region, but also lead to an increase in tension,” the Azerbaijani MFA said in a statement on April 23, according to Caliber.Az.

“The legitimate decision and step taken by Azerbaijan to establish a border checkpoint on its sovereign territory are in accordance with all principles and norms of international law. It is known that the Armenian side declared that it recognized the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan as a result of the Prague and Sochi meetings, which it often refers to. Based on this, Armenia should accept and respect Azerbaijan's right to control entry and exit to its territory,” the statement added.

“The establishment of this checkpoint is a legitimate and a national security decision taken after the 44-day Patriotic War of 2020, when the Armenian side, contrary to the provisions of the Trilateral Statement, did not stop military provocations against Azerbaijan, used the road for illegal activities, transportation of ammunition and mines, and the rotation of its military personnel. At the same time, on April 22, the transfer of two military-purpose living containers and a convoy of military vehicles to Azerbaijani territory with trucks belonging to Armenia, as well as Armenia's activity to build military infrastructure at the closest point to Azerbaijani territory at the start of the Lachin-Khankendi road, were among the factors that accelerated this decision,” the ministry says.

“Regarding the groundless claim that Azerbaijan has violated the obligations under the Trilateral Statement, we would like to remind the Armenian side that the Armenian leadership confirmed at the highest level that this country was not given any function in the matter of the organization of movement on the Lachin road by the Trilateral Statement. Against this background, it is illogical and contrary to this stated position that Armenia's MFA, as a party to the Trilateral Statement, calls the step taken by Azerbaijan unacceptable. This obligation also includes the prevention of abuse of the Lachin road. Also, the organization of the border checkpoint at the beginning of the road does not change the traffic pattern on the road,” the statement noted.

It added that “ensuring border security, which is beyond the scope of the Trilateral Statement, is the prerogative of the Azerbaijani government and a necessary condition for national security, state sovereignty, and the rule of law. The absurd claim that the establishment of the border checkpoint is aimed at ‘ethnic cleansing’ is groundless and unacceptable”.

The Azerbaijani ministry reiterated that “we once again declare that there are appropriate conditions for the transparent, safe and orderly passage of local Armenian residents of the Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan from the station in both directions. This statement from Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which boycotted the peace talks, indicates the country's intention to use the event to oppose efforts to resume negotiations”.

“We recommend the Armenian side to stop such provocations, to take a responsible approach to efforts to establish relations with Azerbaijan based on principles such as the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the countries, and to take a constructive position instead of obstructing the peace talks with various excuses. At the same time, we call on Armenia to stop its attempts to use the international community as a tool for its smear campaign, including distorting the well-known decision of the International Court of Justice for this purpose," the statement concluded.