BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 17. The statement of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Anne-Clair Legendre is biased and distorts the current situation in the region, Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Aykhan Hajizada said, Trend reports.
Hajizada made the remark commenting on Legendre's statement made on June 16, 2023 in connection with the provocations of the Armenian Armed Forces on the border with Azerbaijan.
"I would like to remind the French side that Azerbaijan, in accordance with international norms and rules, ensured the regulated, free and safe movement of hundreds of Armenian residents through the Lachin checkpoint in both directions," he said, adding that, "despite this, on June 15, as a result of the shelling of the border checkpoint by Armenia, he was injured our border guard. Currently, security measures are being taken and investigative actions are underway".
The spokesman expressed regret over the biased approach demonstrated by the French side against the background of the mentioned Armenian provocation in Lachin and the shelling of Azerbaijani territories in other directions.
"At the same time, the fact that the French side has not yet reacted in any way to the fact that Armenia exposes the civilian population to a mine threat by placing mines manufactured in 2021 on the territory of Azerbaijan, prevents the dignified and safe return of Azerbaijanis to their native lands through provocations also raises questions," Hajizada noted.
According to him, Armenia must put an end to its provocative actions that impede the peace process, completely withdraw its armed forces from the territory of Azerbaijan [in accordance with trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war], and fulfill its obligations to restore communications in the region.
Azerbaijan is firmly committed to ensuring peace, stability and development in the region, as well as to normalizing relations with Armenia on the basis of such principles of international law as territorial integrity and sovereignty, the spokesman said.
"We call on the French side not to indulge attempts to impede the process, again demonstrating such a biased position," Hajizada added.