“We – Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries and Azerbaijani diaspora organizations – state with deep grief that 6 more Azerbaijani citizens fell victims to mine terrorism of Armenia on September 19. Four police officers and two civilians died after being struck by Armenian-made mines on a newly built road while performing official duties in Azerbaijani territories liberated as a result of the Second Karabakh War in 2020.
In general, since the end of the Second Karabakh War – from November 10, 2020 to the present day, 320 Azerbaijani citizens have suffered from mines produced in Armenia in 2020-2023. 67 of them were killed and 314 were injured. Official Yerevan refused to provide mine maps to Baku and continued to pollute the territories of Azerbaijan with new mines.
This, along with preventing construction and restoration work in the territories of Azerbaijan destroyed by Armenia during the 30-year occupation, poses a serious threat to the lives of civilians working there. Furthermore, over 750 thousand Azerbaijani IDP-s who have been homesick for their homeland for 30 years, still cannot return to their homes due to the fact that Armenia has not provided mine maps despite the fact that the war has been over for 3 years.
The fact that Armenia under various pretexts is delaying the settlement process, despite the statement of acceptance of the peace proposals put forward by Azerbaijan, as well as demonstrating a destructive position in negotiations conducted by international efforts and not responding to the peace agenda, manifests that this state is not interested in the peace process and seeks to attack this process.
In addition, Armenia, contrary to the provisions of the Tripartite Statement signed between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on November 10, 2020, continues to maintain its military units in the territory of Azerbaijan and finance the illegal separatist regime. This poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
For this reason, on September 19, in order to prevent large-scale provocations expected from the Armenian armed forces, as well as ensure the implementation of the provisions of the Tripartite Statement, disarm and withdraw units of the Armenian armed forces from the territories of Azerbaijan, neutralize their military infrastructure, secure the safety of the civilian population, including civilian workers and military personnel participating in restoration and construction work carried out in the territory, and restore the constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani army launched local anti-terrorist measures in Azerbaijani territories temporarily controlled by Russian peacekeepers. As in the Second Karabakh war, the measures taken now target exclusively illegal military formations and military infrastructure. Unlike Armenia, the Azerbaijani side does not target the civilian population in any case.
The only way to establish peace and stability in the region is the unconditional and complete withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, respect for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and the dissolution of the separatist regime.
We appeal on the states of the world and international organizations to influence the Armenian state so that it immediately and completely withdraws its illegal armed groups from the territories of Azerbaijan, presents mine maps to Azerbaijan and signs a peace treaty with Azerbaijan as soon as possible in order to secure peace and stability in the region.
We, the world Azerbaijanis declare our readiness to provide all possible support to our native country – Azerbaijan”.
