Azerbaijan trying to hinder ICRC's access to Karabakh, says Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan is trying to hinder work in Nagorno-Karabakh even for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan told a press conference with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Shallenberg in Yerevan Wednesday, February 2.

According to Mirzoyan, no matter how much the international community supports the parties in reaching an agreement, it is necessary that the sides themselves have this political will, Sputnik Armenia reports.

"I think that the whole world has seen that Armenia is ready and wants to build peace in the region," Mirzoyan said. Unfortunately, he added, other messages are often heard from Baku, evidenced by the latest statements of the President of Azerbaijan.

Anti-Armenian and aggressive rhetoric, aggressive steps on the border, holding prisoners of war in Azerbaijan do not contribute to the creation of a constructive atmosphere, the Armenian foreign policy chief said.

"Although this was not envisaged under the trilateral agreement (dated November 9, 2020 - Ed.), the Armenian side handed over maps of minefields to Azerbaijan, as [Yerevan] is not interested in more deaths," Mirzoyan said.

The Minister also noted that Baku is forcing and demanding the international organizations, even the International Committee of the Red Cross, to "act within a framework indicated by Azerbaijan."

"This is the only organization that has been represented in Nagorno-Karabakh in recent years and had access there. Now Azerbaijan limits even that," Mirzoyan said.