Foreign ministry: Presenting occupation of Azerbaijan’s lands as ‘protection of own freedom’ is justification of Armenia’s militaristic policy

Azerbaijan, Baku, September 2 / Trend S. Agayeva / Presenting the occupation of the territories of the neighbouring country as 'the protection of their own freedom' is a brilliant example of an attempt to justify Armenia's militarist policy, spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Elman Abdullayev told Trend today. He was commenting on the Armenian president's message in connection with the so-called 'Freedom Day' of the Azerbaijani separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh. "As a result of the so-called 'protection of our own freedom', one million Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs suffered a bloody ethnic cleansing and driven out of their native lands," he added. "Apparently, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan refers to this as 'protection of freedom'." "It is unacceptable to change the borders by using force in today's world, especially when these borders have been recognised by the international community," he said. "One must draw the Armenian side's attention to the documents and decisions made by the international community. According to them, Armenia has been recognised as an aggressor. It is condemned for the occupation of Azerbaijani territories." The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az