Azerbaijan rejects peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict, violates Bandung Principles: Armenian diplomat

Head of International Organizations Department of the Armenia’s Foreign Ministry Vahram Kazhoyan delivered a speech at High-level meeting in the margins of 73d UNGA Summit in New York in response to the speech of the head of the Azerbaijani delegation.

Addressing the present, Kazhoyan particularly stressed that Azerbaijan periodically violates Bandung Principles (adopted in 1955), applying aggression against people of Artsakh and refusing to recognize the most important principle – the principle of equality of the nations.

“Azerbaijan refuses to settle the Karabakh issue in peaceful way and periodically carries out military activities both on the border with Armenia and on the Line of Contact with Karabakh. It is inacceptable when aggressor pretends a victim and accuses others,” he said.

Armenia’s MFA representative also reminded that Azerbaijan refuses to recognize the right of Artsakh people to self-determination, which is one of the principles of Karabakh conflict settlement.

“People of Artsakh made their decision on December 10, 1991. They have a right to be recognized as an independent state. It is their choice and no one can make them do the opposite,” Kazhoyan stressed.

He also noted that unlike the pressures in Azerbaijan the authorities of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) carry out an open policy. “Any foreigner that visits Karabakh appears in Azerbaijan’s black list which restricts people’s right to free movement,” he said.

Armenian diplomat also stressed that the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh have ratified and are successfully carrying out basic documents of UN and international human rights organizations.

Concluding his speech, Kazhoyan noted that the only threat to the region’s security comes from Azerbaijan. “Many Azerbaijani citizens left for Middle East to join terrorist groups. Now they state that they will return and fight against Artsakh,” he stressed.