Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry Responds to Ararat Mirzoyan's Statement

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has addressed the statement made by Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during a joint press conference with the UK Minister for European Affairs Leo Docherty yesterday, in which he claimed that Azerbaijan is subjecting the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing by illegally blocking the Lachin Corridor.

“In my discussion with my colleague, I emphasized that the blockade of the corridor has created serious humanitarian issues in Nagorno-Karabakh, including obstacles to the normal functioning of the only international organization with access to Nagorno-Karabakh, the Red Cross. It is evident that this blockade is part of a policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh,” Mirzoyan stated.

In response, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry wrote: “We call on Armenia to refrain from dangerous rhetoric that undermines peace and security in the region, and instead of unjustly accusing Azerbaijan, to fulfill its obligations and stop attempts to divert the international community's attention.”

“Armenia continues to encourage the sending of international missions to Azerbaijani territory, while obstructing the Azerbaijani government's dialogue with the Armenian residents of the Karabakh region, which is viewed as interference in Azerbaijan's internal affairs. If Armenia is indeed an advocate for peace and security in the region, it should cease such interventions,” the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's statement concluded.