Nalbandian slams Baku aggression at Mammadyarov meeting

PanARMENIAN.Net - Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with his Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov at the suggestion and in the presence of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.

At the New York-hosted meeting on Friday, September 25, Nalbandian condemned Azerbaijan's use of heavy artillery amid ceasefire violations that resulted in human losses.

“In a blatant ploy to deflect international attention from the outrageous human rights situation in Azerbaijan and the growing criticism of the international community over the issue, Baku escalates the situation at the contact line with Nagorno Karabakh and the border with Armenia with considerable unexpected negative consequences. Azerbaijan thus demonstrates its disregard for the human life and its own commitments,” Nalbandians stated.

Commenting on the Co-chairs’ September 25 statement, Minister Nalbandian said: “Azerbaijan continuously rejects the proposals on confidence-building measures and the initiatives aimed at stabilization of the situation. Therefore, it is obvious who the messages of the statement are addressed to. But Baku seems to deliberately be paying no attention to what the international community is trying to say through the mediator states.”

Nalbandian stressed the importance of the Co-chairs’ proposal on creation of an investigative mechanism for probing ceasefire violations, something that Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh have supported on numerous occasions. It would help determine with certainty which side is responsible for the ceasefire violations and incidents, he noted.

“Azerbaijan declines the initiative to be able to continue its provocations at the borders and contact line,” Nalbandian said.

In this context, the Co-chairs expressed deep concerns about current situation, stressing that further escalation is unacceptable.