"Azerbaijan will not back down in Nagorno-Karabakh region"

Despite the ceasefire, the Azerbaijani ambassador affirmed that his country has not given up on restoring “sovereignty” over Nagorno-Karabakh.

On the afternoon of April 6 in Hanoi, the Azerbaijan Embassy in Vietnam held a press conference on the escalating developments.Nagorno-Karabakh conflictbetween Armenia and Azerbaijan recently.

Azerbaijani Ambassador Imanov (left) at a press conference on the afternoon of April 6 in Hanoi.

At a press conference with the presence of reporters from many Vietnamese media agencies, Azerbaijani Ambassador Anar Imanov said his country earnestly wants to resolve this conflict by peaceful means.

However, he affirmed that if the ceasefire agreement reached on April 5 between the two sides is "violated" by Armenia, his country will not hesitate to "respond".

Do not give up "sovereignty"

Ambassador Imanov made it clear that although the two sides had signed a ceasefire, this did not mean that Azerbaijan had given up its intention to restore “sovereignty” over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Ambassador Imanov briefed journalists on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

At a meeting with reporters, Mr. Imanov said that the above-mentioned area belongs to Azerbaijan, recognized by the international community. He also mentioned a series of previous resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council, which recognized the area as part of Azerbaijan's territory and demanded that Armenia completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from the area.

Regarding the direct cause of the series of bloody clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia on April 2-3, the two countries have given conflicting "versions". Both sides accused each other of being the first to fire.

According to the “version” put forward by the Azerbaijani ambassador, the Armenian side from the “occupied” area (including Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 surrounding provinces) fired artillery at the neighboring villages that are still under Azerbaijan’s de facto control. After being fired upon like that, Mr. Imanov said, the Azerbaijani army took appropriate steps to respond.

Determined to hold the high points just captured

According to diplomat Imanov, during the recent fighting, the Azerbaijani army recaptured several hills on the inner edge of the occupied zone from which Armenia fired artillery into Azerbaijani-controlled areas.

Ambassador Imanov: "Our signing of a ceasefire does not mean that Azerbaijan has given up its intention to restore 'sovereignty' over Nagorno-Karabakh".

Speaking to VOV reporters, Mr. Imanov said: Because these high points are located in the territory that naturally belongs to Azerbaijan (but is actually “occupied” by Armenia), even if a ceasefire agreement is signed, Azerbaijan will not return to its original position before the deadly clashes broke out. In other words, the Azerbaijani army will “not return” some of the high points that they have just “taken back” from Armenia.

Ambassador Imanov affirmed that, in the spirit of the recently signed ceasefire agreement, both sides will have to maintain the status quo, with soldiers from both sides staying in place and not moving./.

According to VOV