MP: Yerevan dodges of negotiations with Baku

The main reason for the provocations of the Armenian side on the frontline is the unwillingness of Yerevan to begin substantive negotiations, which could be the beginning of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijani MP Sahib Aliyev made the remark while commenting on the tension on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.

The MP stressed that the Armenian side has always shown unwillingness to negotiate, mentioning that it resorted to various provocations for many years, and continues the same policy today.

“It is obvious that the Armenian authorities are trying to wriggle out of the substantive negotiations, to which Azerbaijan is ready. The Armenian leadership continues its aggressive policy against our country,” Aliyev said.

The MP also reminded the April fights of last year, when Azerbaijani Army’s counterattack in response to Armenia’s provocations led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements.

“These battles showed the professionalism of our army, its high tactical training, and demonstrated the failure of the Armenian army,” Aliyev said.

Back then, Armenian military units in the occupied Azerbaijani lands began shelling Azerbaijan’s positions. To protect its civilian population, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched counter attacks, and as a result, the Azerbaijani troops retook hills around the village of Talish, as well as Seysulan settlement, and also took over Lele Tepe hill located in the direction of Fuzuli region.

In the April fighting, over 320 Armenian servicemen were killed, more than 500 Armenian soldiers were injured, 30 enemy tanks and other armored vehicles, as well as more than 25 artillery pieces were destroyed during the counter attacks of Azerbaijan.

The MP went on to say that Armenia, continuing the aggressive policy against Azerbaijan, even more plunges itself into an economic blockade and political isolation, deprives itself of opportunity to join regional projects that could help Armenia get out of severe economic crisis.

“Armenia should join substantive talks, be constructive and start de-occupation of the Azerbaijani territories,” noted the MP. “The status quo is unacceptable for Azerbaijan, and it is quite reasonable that the basis for peace will emerge only after the withdrawal of the occupation forces. Otherwise, a military solution of the problem will not be excluded,” the MP added.

Baku has repeatedly expressed its consent to come to the negotiating table with Armenia to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by peaceful means, but Armenia continues to play for time and avoids substantive negotiations in order to preserve the status quo in NagornoKarabakh.

The conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from NagornoKarabakh and surrounding districts.