“Currently, Armenians live in areas under the control of Russian peacekeepers.” “We consider them citizens of Azerbaijan,” Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov said today, emphasizing that one of the most important issues for Baku is the integration of Armenians into Azerbaijani society.
Khalafov insisted that despite the end of the war and the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, there are still cases of ceasefire violations. “They are an obstacle to peace and must be stopped,” he said.
“I am sure that the Russian peacekeepers are fully aware of their tasks and responsibilities. The illegal Armenian military units that are there must be withdrawn, the process will be in that direction. “All obstacles to peace must be removed,” Khalafov added.
This issue was also raised last month by Azerbaijani President Ilham Ali during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, when the two countries signed an agreement on allied relations.
“We expect the Armenian side to fully implement the 2020 plan. All the provisions of the November statement on the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the territory of Karabakh, as well as the opening of communication channels between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan. “It is the legal obligation of the Armenian side, but, unfortunately, the work in that direction is progressing slowly,” Ali said.