Tokyo, 03 August, /AJMEDIA/
As it is known, Armenia kept the Azerbaijani lands under occupation for nearly 30 years and made illegal activities in this region a normal habit. Despite the 4 binding resolutions of the UN Security Council which were demanding an immediate end of the occupation, barbaric activities such as the establishment of illegal settlements on a part of Azerbaijani territory, the promotion of migration of people from various parts of the world to there, the looting of the natural resources of the occupied region, the destruction of historical monuments were being seen by Armenia as its natural right. In 2020, Azerbaijan cleared this stain of international law through military means. Occupation era ended. Although Azerbaijan was the victorious country, it directed the peace proposal based on basic principles, which are considered to be the achievements of international law that humanity achieved decades ago, to Armenia. However, in the last three years, it is observed that Armenia’s activities towards establishing peace are far from sincerity. Namely, the following facts reveal the insincerity of the Armenian administration: 1. Armenia has always given priority to armament in the last 3 years. 2. Despite the verbal declarations of Armenia to recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, it still continues to keep illegal military units in the region belonging to Azerbaijan, where the temporary Russian peacekeeping force is located. 3. It still believes in the encouragement policies of other countries and adopts an attitude towards gaining time in the negotiations process. 4. It does not fulfill its commitment to the opening of the Zangezur Corridor.
The insincerity and interest-blindness of a few countries, especially Armenia, caused the Azerbaijani diplomacy to offer basic international law lessons for them in 2023. Unfortunately, MFA Azerbaijan had to explain that the establishment of a checkpoint on the border of the Republic of Azerbaijan recognized by the UN was carried out within the framework of the sovereign right of states. In fact, when COVID broke out in 2019, we should have realized that the situation would go down to such a tragicomic level after doctors explained the world how to wash our hands.
After the Azerbaijani Armed Forces ended the occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan enabled the temporary deployment of Russian peacekeepers to the region in order to ensure the safe integration of the Armenian minority living in Azerbaijan into society, and provided humanitarian gestures such as a road connection with Armenia. However, illegal Armenian armed units did not leave Azerbaijan for about 3 years, in addition, the transportation of weapons from Armenia to them was patiently observed and proved. Azerbaijan has warned dozens of times. On April 23, 2023, a border control point was created by the Republic of Azerbaijan for the security of the country and it was declared that the possibility of free passage continues within the framework of the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The ICJ has confirmed Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over Lachin province with two decisions announced in February and July 2023. On June 15, 2023, Armenian soldiers attacked the border control center, and an Azerbaijani soldier was seriously injured. In response, the Azerbaijani side stopped the passage through the border control point except for medical emergencies and announced that the Agdam-Khankendi road could be used.
It should be noted that the Azerbaijani side still does not insist on meeting the “needs” sent from Armenia for the Armenian minority living in the Karabakh region, from Azerbaijan. This is a genuine humanitarian gesture. However, each state has the right to take all other measures, especially customs taxation, for products brought from abroad.
Without prior permission from Azerbaijan the Armenian administration has been keeping the “need” convoy consisting of 19 trucks waiting in front of the Lachin border checkpoint of Azerbaijan since July 26, 2023, in order to send to the Armenian minority living in Azerbaijan. With this step, Armenia is trying to present Azerbaijan to the world as a “bad state that hinders humanitarian needs”. At the same time, it plans to cover up the illegal armed units that it continues to keep in Azerbaijan, Zangezur Corridor liability and mine problem. It hopes that this will reduce the pressure of the opposition in domestic politics. Naturally, the Azerbaijani side did not allow this passage. Because the Lachin road cannot be used as a tool for the Armenian Lebensraum. If the Armenian minority in Azerbaijan really needs “humanitarian aid”, the Aghdam-Khankendi route proposed by Azerbaijan can be used very easily.
The Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan has repeatedly taken various initiatives for the integration of the Armenian minority in Karabakh and sincerely continues this attitude. But the truth that needs to be known is that those who use them as a geopolitical tool by keeping them captive (and preventing integration) are doing the worst possible harm to that minority.
Armenia’s Miatsum ideology is similar to other sick ideologies in history, such as Anschluss and Enosis, and harms its owner and the whole world. Azerbaijan’s armed forces have terminated Miatsum. International law demands that Armenia and its supporters forget about the comforts of the occupation period. The sooner they accept this reality, the better for them.
Dr. Elsevar Salmanov
Consul-First Secretary
Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan
