Karabakh slams Azerbaijan's Shushi trip for diplomatic corps

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Foreign Ministry of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) has condemned the organization by the Azerbaijani authorities of a July 10 visit of members of foreign diplomatic missions to the occupied territories of Artsakh, including the city of Shushi.

By such actions, the Ministry said, Azerbaijan is trying to consolidate the results of the aggressive war it unleashed on September 27, 2020 with the participation of Turkey and militants from international terrorist and extremist organizations.

"Azerbaijan's attempts to legitimize the current illegal state of affairs also mean justifying the aggressive war, cooperation with international terrorists, violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes. In this regard, it is regrettable that foreign diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan have succumbed to Baku's manipulative actions, which are not only aimed at preventing the resumption of the process of a comprehensive settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict, but also undermine the foundations of international relations, laying the basis for recognizing the results of illegal actions as an acceptable norm. No territorial acquisitions resulting from the threat or use of force should be recognized as legitimate," the Ministry said in a statement.

"We reiterate that the territories of the Republic of Artsakh, including the city of Shushi, captured by Azerbaijan with the support of Turkey and international terrorists during the 44-day war, are temporarily occupied territories in accordance with the norms of international law. The city of Shushi is an integral part of Artsakh both in territorial, cultural, economic and historical aspects. Any attempt to separate it is a gross violation of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Artsakh."

The statement went on to say that the restoration of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Artsakh and the acquisition of international legal personality by Artsakh are indispensable conditions for achieving a comprehensive settlement of the conflict and establishing lasting peace in the region.

"We call on the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair states to take all necessary steps aimed at resuming the negotiation process with a view to a final settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict," it added.

The ambassadors of the United States, France and Russia have rejected the invitation of the Azerbaijani government to visit the Nagorno-Karabakh city of Shushi, which came under Baku's control during the 44-day war in fall 2020. Ambassadors of 46 countries, however, did accept the invitation and were pictured taking selfies near the iconic Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, which was targeted by Azerbaijan's precision guided missiles twice within an hour.