Baku, September 21, AZERTAC

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Bayramov, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Hanke Braun Slott, on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Press Service Department, Jeyhun Bayramov briefed his colleague about Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani lands for over 30 years. Minister Bayramov provided thorough information regarding regional threats and risks emanating from Armenia's unlawful stay in Azerbaijan's Karabakh territory following the 44-day Patriotic War, as well as Armenia's actions undermining the peace process. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov discussed the factors making Azerbaijan to take local anti-terrorist measures in the region, and informed his colleague in detail about the puppet regime's recent provocations and terrorist attacks, as well as the measures taken by the Azerbaijan Armed Forces to prevent further military provocations and terrorist acts within Azerbaijan's sovereign territory. He emphasized that these steps are in compliance with international law, and that they completely comply with humanitarian law principles.

The minister also noted that due to the fact that the continued illegal presence of the Armenian armed forces in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan is a serious obstacle to sustainable peace. He found the need for their unconditional and complete withdrawal from the territory of Azerbaijan, dissolving the puppet regime, and the resolute condemnation of military provocations and terrorist acts.

The Azerbaijani Minister also stressed that it is highly important not to issue any statements aimed at encouraging those forces.

According to him, local anti-terrorist measures were ceased on September 20 by a request made by representatives of the Armenian citizens of Karabakh via the Russian peacekeeping contingent. Minister Bayramov noted that a meeting was held in the Azerbaijani city of Yevlakh on September 21 to discuss reintegration issues, adding that these efforts would help to eliminate the roadblock to relationship normalization between Azerbaijan and Armenia.