Azerbaijan Rejects Armenian PM’s Allegations, Calls for End to Hostile Rhetoric
Baku, The Gulf Observer: Azerbaijan has firmly rejected recent claims made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, accusing him of distorting facts and misleading the international community. The remarks, published in an article by Armenpress on February 10, 2025, alleged that Azerbaijan was preparing for an attack against Armenia and questioned the intentions of the Western Azerbaijan Community.
In response, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Aykhan Hajizada, dismissed these allegations as baseless, emphasizing that they serve to manipulate global opinion. He pointed out that despite Armenia’s advocacy for military capability rights, the country had maintained over 10,000 armed personnel and heavy weaponry in Azerbaijan’s territory for three years after the 44-day war, in direct violation of the Trilateral Statement.
Hajizada further highlighted Armenia’s significant military buildup, noting that its defense budget has tripled from $600 million in 2021 to $1.6 billion in 2024, with recent military contracts prioritizing offensive weaponry capable of striking deep into Azerbaijani territory. He described this military expansion as a direct threat, particularly given Armenia’s continued territorial claims and resurgence of revanchist sentiments.
Addressing concerns over the Western Azerbaijan Community, Hajizada reiterated that its objective is the safe and dignified return of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia, in line with international human rights conventions. He accused Pashinyan of attempting to misrepresent the group’s purpose to justify Armenia’s longstanding policies, which have effectively erased the Azerbaijani population from its territory.
The Azerbaijani spokesperson also dismissed Pashinyan’s reference to the Prague meeting of 2022, the Almaty Declaration of 1991, and elements of the draft peace agreement as proof of Armenia’s commitment to peaceful relations. He argued that Pashinyan’s actions, including sending a congratulatory message to the so-called “independence” of an illegal regime on Azerbaijani land in September 2023, contradict these assertions. Additionally, he criticized Armenia for failing to amend its constitution and legal framework, which continue to contain territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
Hajizada condemned Armenia’s dismissal of war crime trials, stating that its refusal to acknowledge past atrocities and pursue accountability undermines reconciliation efforts. He also accused Armenia of obstructing the implementation of agreements on regional connectivity, particularly the opening of communication links between Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Regarding arms control, Hajizada argued that Armenia had long violated international mechanisms by concealing military assets and deploying them illegally in Azerbaijani territory. He dismissed Pashinyan’s calls for arms control mechanisms as insincere, given Armenia’s past actions.
Concluding his statement, Hajizada urged Armenia to cease making inflammatory statements and instead focus on constructive steps toward lasting peace in the region.
