Baku flatly rejects Yerevan’s unfounded and false accusations

We strongly reject the November 9, 2023, unfounded accusations full of lies against Azerbaijan by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in his speech in Paris at the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference.

Spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizada said in a comment, Caliber.Az reports.

“It is unacceptable that Armenia, which committed mass murder and crimes against humanity during almost 30-year-long military aggression against our country, violating the fundamental rights of about a million Azerbaijanis, hypocritically continues to accuse Azerbaijan of ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Armenians, who voluntarily went to Armenia, trying to abuse various international platforms.

“It is obvious that such unfounded claims by Armenia directly contradict the reports and statements of representatives of specialized UN structures, who visit the region and are also active in this country.

“As for allegations of a threat to cultural and historical monuments in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, it is completely unfounded that Armenia, notorious for the deliberate destruction, appropriation, alteration, as well as illegal movement of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage in the former occupied territories of the country and in Armenia, is accusing Azerbaijan of this issue.

“The inappropriate reference by the Armenian minister to the decision of the International Court in this matter is nothing more than an attempt to distort court decisions. Azerbaijan’s historical and religious monuments on the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan are its national cultural heritage and are protected regardless of their origin, secular or religious affiliation.

“Armenia’s calls for an assessment mission to the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan from such an international platform as UNESCO, which is entrusted with the task of preserving culture, religion, and history, are nothing more than hypocrisy. It was Azerbaijan, who repeatedly called for assessment missions, but, unfortunately, this was impossible due to Armenia’s obstacles and UNESCO itself confirmed it in its 2005 report.

“Once again, we are witnessing how Armenia, continuing its false and slanderous rhetoric against Azerbaijan from various international platforms, continues its smear campaign against Azerbaijan, thereby decisively undermining the prospects for a peace agreement.

“We hope that Armenia will not miss this historic chance for peace in the region and will not hinder efforts to ensure regional and economic stability, from which its country will benefit,” the commentary reads.