The presence of third-party forces on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia is a concerning issue, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said.
"There is no need for the deployment of a European Union mission on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border. The activities of this mission should already be concluded. The mission was initially agreed upon during a meeting in Prague attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, French President Emmanuel Macron, then-President of the European Council Charles Michel, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with the understanding that it would be short-term. However, the mission has taken on a permanent character and its composition and mandate are being expanded,” Hikmat Hajiyev said.
The official stressed that if the delimitation and demarcation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan is carried out in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and peace, there is no need for the presence of a third force or its enrichment with military personnel.
He noted that the EU mission does not serve as a factor in expanding peace in the region, and added that the strengthening of peace is a process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Hajiyev warned that the presence of a third country on the border and the emergence of the European Union as a security and military factor in the South Caucasus could lead to increased tensions between the two countries. He also noted that some European countries are pursuing their own plans in Armenia under the guise of the EU mission.
According to him, Armenia and Azerbaijan have certain open controversial issues, which are also being considered in a working order.
“The Republic of Azerbaijan has fully ensured its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Armenia's armed occupation forces have also been withdrawn from the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Such issues are a process that is already taking place on a working, routine level. These issues are also discussed between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries. In the media plane, these issues should also be considered as part of the routine process. There is no more war factor between the two countries, and Armenian troops have been withdrawn from our territories. There are certain open disputable issues between the two countries, which are also considered in the working order,” Hikmat Hajiyev said.
