Azerbaijani MFA retorts to EU High Representative
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has criticized the erroneous opinions of Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the EU Commission. The Azerbaijani Ministry spokesperson, Aykhan Hajizada, expressed dissatisfaction with Borrell’s remarks, stating that they gravely distort the reality and are unacceptable.
Hajizada specifically highlighted Borrell’s indifference towards the presence of Armenian armed forces in Azerbaijani territory, which Azerbaijan views as a primary source of threats that led to its counter-terrorism measures. He deemed this indifference as clear bias against Azerbaijan. Furthermore, considering the fact that Spain, which Borrell has represented for a long time, was a victim of separatism, Hajizada found Borrell’s statements supporting separatist tendencies in support of Armenia surprising.
The Azerbaijani spokesperson also criticized Borrell for alleging that Armenian residents who migrated from the region were forcibly deported, deliberately exaggerating their number. According to Hajizada, these false statements not only disrespect the rights of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis who were expelled from their homes as a result of Armenia’s policy of ethnic cleansing, but also undermine the EU’s mediation efforts, as well as the mission of the EU Council President Charles Michel in the region.
Hajizada further pointed out that while Armenia claimed that 100,000 Armenians left the territory, of whom 15,000 were personnel from the Armed Forces of Armenia, Borrell’s mention of 150,000 Armenians leaving the area leads to a serious misunderstanding.
Addressing the lasting conflict in the region for 30 years, Hajizada reminded Borrell that it was Armenia’s use of force against Azerbaijan that resulted in the conflict. He emphasized that Azerbaijan took legitimate measures to resolve the conflict according to the norms and principles of international law through military-political means.
In conclusion, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the EU representative to cease making confrontational and provocative statements.
As tensions continue in the region, the Azerbaijani government appears to be unhappy with the statements made by Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative, regarding the presence of Armenian armed forces in Azerbaijani territory. Azerbaijan accuses Borrell of showing bias against their country and even supporting separatist tendencies. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on Borrell to refrain from making such statements and to put an end to his confrontational approach. These remarks further strain the already delicate relationship between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The international community will closely observe how the situation unfolds and whether any efforts towards de-escalation can be made.
