BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 1. Armenia is attempting to preserve influence with its Western supporters by keeping the Minsk Group on the agenda, Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant of the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, TurkicWorld reports.
According to Hajiyev, Azerbaijan has never been an occupying state. It has always adhered to the norms and principles of international law in its relations with neighboring countries. In contrast, Armenia was an occupying state. If we examine the international relations system post-World War II, very few states are labeled as occupiers or aggressors, and Armenia is one of them.
The official drew a parallel between the restrictions placed on the development of Iraq's armed forces after the Iraq-Kuwait war and suggested that similar proportional restrictions should be applied to Armenia’s armed forces.
He also emphasized that the Armenian Prime Minister’s recent comments regarding the abolition of the Minsk Group were filled with lies and distortions. Hajiyev stated that the time for the abolition of the Minsk Group has long passed, and there is no need for such an institution.
"The fact that Armenia continues to push this institution shows that the government, by creating the impression that the conflict is not resolved, is trying, with support from its Western backers, to maintain certain levers of influence," he said.
Addressing Pashinyan's statement about comparing the constitutions of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Hajiyev noted that the Armenian Constitution still contains a clause with territorial claims against Azerbaijan, based on the Act of Independence, which includes the annexation of Karabakh to Armenia.
"We see significant obstacles in reaching a peace treaty between the two states as long as this clause remains. Armenian society itself must amend the constitution, remove this provision, and demonstrate its desire to live in peace.
The Constitution of Azerbaijan does not contain territorial claims against any state and is a document that reflects the legal will of the Azerbaijani people. We view this comparison as a mere play on words. Therefore, we recommend that the Prime Minister and the political leadership of Armenia take genuine steps toward promoting a peace agenda and supporting it with the participation of regional states, rather than engaging in such word games," he added.el
