Azerbaijan sends note to U.S.

The U.S. charge d’affaires in Azerbaijan was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was handed a note addressed to the U.S. Department of State in connection with the illegal trip of a U.S. citizen, named Dan Bilzerian, to Azerbaijan’s occupied territories.

Spokesman of the ministry Hikmet Hajiyev said that during the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was brought to attention that Dan Bilzerian, having violated the law on Azerbaijan’s state border and the Migration Code, without submitting the relevant documents, traveled from Armenia to Azerbaijan’s occupied territories, and while being in Khankendi city and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan, he encouraged the separatist regime.

It was also brought to the attention that Bilzerian illegally acquired firearms, openly and for provocative purposes opened fire at the positions of Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces. It was noted that this person, who is a U.S. citizen, was making ignorant and obscene statements offending the dignity and spiritual values of the Azerbaijani people in front of the cameras, and it was also stressed that such actions are contrary to the spirit of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and the US.

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan launched a criminal case in connection with these illegal actions and the necessary measures are being taken to bring this person to justice.

The Azerbaijani side also said it is expecting that the U.S. government will seriously take into account Azerbaijan’s concern regarding the unlawful actions of Bilzerian and take the necessary measures to warn U.S. citizens against violating the laws, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, as well as international norms and principles.

The Nagorno-Karabakh 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.

Until now, Armenia controls fifth part of Azerbaijan’s territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.