Baku: Armenian FM’s speech in Belgrade based on lies

/By AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s speech at the OSCE Ministerial Council is based on the false and distorted information, said Hikmat Hajiyev, spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmat Hajiyev.

“Moreover, it is far from reality,” he told Trend on December 4, while commenting on Nalbandian’s accusations.

“This speech consisted of groundless claims,” he said. “There was no positive moment, which could serve the purpose of promoting the negotiations held with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group.”

Moreover, the Armenian side resorted to the diversions along the line of contact, he said.

“As a result of this irresponsible action, it suffered huge losses. This testifies to Armenia’s purposes,” Hajiyev added.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. Armenia continues the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal.

Peace talks brokered by mediators from Russia, France and the U.S. have produced no results so far.