Head of the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Leyla Abdullayeva, answers the media's question regarding the reaction to the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs dated May 28, 2021

Answer: The issues mentioned in the statement of the co-chairs, including our position on the recent tensions on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, the attempt of a saboteur group to commit a terror act while entering the territory of Azerbaijan, the delimitation and demarcation process, as well as providing humanitarian access to the region have been repeatedly stated in official statements.

Azerbaijan has made every effort and currently undertakes relevant measures to restore the liberated territories and ensure the peaceful coexistence of people in these areas. Cooperation with international humanitarian organizations is carried out on the basis of the principles of international law, as well as appropriate steps have been taken to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by the war in Karabakh. 

Regarding the detained 6 Armenian servicemen, referred to in the statement of the co-chairs, we remind that these Armenian servicemen were detained while committing a provocation aimed at planting landmines on the roads. At a time when landmines planted by Armenia in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan pose a threat to human life on a daily basis, Armenia's refusal to provide information on the location of landmines, as well as attempts to plant new landmines in the area, are beyond all limits. Therefore, before proposing the exchange of detained persons on the principle of “all for all”, the co-chairs should at least pay attention to the reasons for the detention of these persons, and urge provocateurs to refrain from such actions.

We have repeatedly stated that we are in favor of resolving the issue of border tension through negotiations, and also support the calls of the international community for the demarcation and delimitation of the border between the two states. As you know, Azerbaijan supported the proposal put forward some time ago in this regard on the establishment of an appropriate trilateral commission on delimitation and demarcation of the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia. 

Only on the basis of strict adherence to such principles of international law as the principle of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders it will be possible to normalize interstate relations, start demarcation and delimitation of the borderline and, finally, to lay a solid foundation for peaceful coexistence.        

The co-chair countries, in turn, can contribute to ensuring peace and development in the region by supporting the implementation of the trilateral statements.