BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. Sending another mission of the European Union to Armenia is very unpleasant, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with local TV channels on January 10, Trend reports.
"There was also a moment at the Prague meeting. It remained somewhat outside the general context, which was the sending of a European observer mission to the territory of Armenia, to our border regions. This issue was also discussed extensively. One of the proposals was to send this mission to the Azerbaijani side as well. We objected to it. However, we agreed to this mission being sent to Armenia. It was also discussed and agreed at the time that this mission would be short-term, consist of 40 people and last only two months. I agreed to with that. But then, for some reason, this conversation, that is, this agreement, was disrupted. This, of course, was a very disappointing moment. Because we are serious people. There are serious conversations going on here. If we agree to something, even verbally, we must follow through on it. How can it be the case? After a while, a high-ranking official of the European Union said that the mission would be extended. After that, the French foreign minister said that we would extend the mission. Of course, we immediately took action and demanded an explanation. What is this? How will you extend it? After all, you agreed to send this mission with us. Why? Because it will be near our border. How can this fail to be agreed with us?
On December 19, this mission should have ended and members should have gone to their places. In other words, it means that we were deceived. How can we work with you? How can we discuss anything if you deceive us in such a small matter – in fact, it is not a very serious matter – less than two months later? What did they do after that? After that, they officially stopped the operation of the mission on December 19. But on December 20, they sent a new mission. This is just manipulation. Representatives of the new mission are in Armenia now, where they are holding meetings with high-ranking officials. According to the information we have, they will be sent there again in February with a large delegation. Again, without our agreement.
I want to mention one other thing. At the same time, Armenia's closest ally wanted to send an OSCE mission, but we objected to that. Because such issues are approved and resolved on the basis of consensus in the OSCE. Of course, we said that we would not give a consensus. Then, finding a loophole in the rules, they sent a delegation of the OSCE there without consensus. Again manipulation, again fraud. After this fraud was revealed and we expressed our protest, the most beloved ally of Armenia tried to blame it on the co-chair of the OSCE, Poland, claiming that they did not know and that Poland did it. So these details can be opened up a little. I just want to bring to your and the public's attention the degree of hypocrisy, to show who and what we have to face in defending our own rights. Therefore, the sending of this mission is of course very unpleasant. This will not increase security, but rather, this format of negotiations with us will undergo a major shake-up. A question was asked about those negotiation formats. After the “passing away” of the Minsk Group, the European Union started to play its role, and we supported it. I personally made a statement about it several times. I said that we appreciated it. However, if such games will go behind our backs, then the future of this format will be in doubt. France has virtually isolated itself from this process. America and Russia remain. In other words, this is how we see the negotiation at the moment. Of course, Europe can be there, but if, I say again, it treats us fairly," President Ilham Aliyev said.