2023-09-21 09:40:00
The illegal presence of Armenian armed forces in Karabakh was a serious problem for regional peace and security.
Day.Az reports that Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the President of Azerbaijan – Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration, said this in an interview with “BBC News”.
“Azerbaijan has always said that the existence of illegal military units on the territory of Azerbaijan continues to create great problems for ensuring regional peace and security. However, despite this, Armenia stated in the tripartite statement signed on November 10, 2020, “The presence of armed Armenian units on the territory of Azerbaijan he refused to fulfill his obligation”, he stressed.
H. Hajiyev noted that Azerbaijan was forced to take local anti-terrorist measures:
“Armenia continues its military construction on the territory of Azerbaijan, and we are talking about the presence of 10,000 soldiers on the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan. In addition, there are 100 tank elements, 200 artillery units and missiles. Azerbaijan has repeatedly made calls in this regard, but unfortunately, they have not paid attention to Azerbaijan’s calls.
Therefore, he was forced to take local anti-terrorist measures on the territory of Azerbaijan. There was no other choice. This measure was local and limited in nature. We are not talking about a large-scale military operation at all.”
The presidential assistant also said that Azerbaijan never targeted civilians: “However, Azerbaijani civilians and police officers were victims of landmines planted by subversive groups of illegal military units in the Karabakh region of Armenia.”
It should be noted that the local anti-terrorist measures initiated by the Azerbaijani Army in Karabakh resulted in the surrender of the separatists. Taking into account the appeal of the representatives of the Armenian residents of Karabakh through the Russian peacekeeping contingent, an agreement on a complete ceasefire was reached and on September 20, 2023 at 13:00 local anti-terrorist measures were stopped. As proposed by the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a meeting with the representatives of the Armenian residents of Karabakh was scheduled for September 21, 2023 in Yevlakh.
At the meeting to be held in Yevlakh, reintegration issues will be discussed based on the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
It should be noted that according to the agreement reached, the units of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups located in the Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan lay down their weapons, leave their combat positions and military posts and are completely disarmed. Units of the Armenian armed forces leave the territories of Azerbaijan, illegal Armenian armed groups are released.
In parallel, all weapons and heavy equipment are handed over.
It is ensured that the above-mentioned processes are carried out in coordination with the Russian peacekeeping contingent.
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