Azerbaijan intends to allow an international expert team from the United Nations into Karabakh in a matter of days, with the potential for media access as well, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said in an interview to CBC News, Report informs.
Azerbaijan said it does not have plans to force thousands of ethnic Armenians to leave the Nagorno-Karabakh region and instead insisted they would have "guaranteed" safety if they stay, the foreign policy adviser to Azerbaijan's president said.
Hajiyev said Azerbaijan has a comprehensive plan to provide secure and better living conditions for those ethnic Armenians.
"We would like just to see them to stay," Hajiyev said in an interview with CBC News.
"Azerbaijan continues to make its appeal to the local population that security is guaranteed.... But in the meantime, we cannot stop freedom of movement. It is a sovereign and individual choice of everyone on the ground."
While commenting on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statement on "ethnic cleancing", Hajiyev said the allegation was "an insult and humiliation."
"Azerbaijan is not and will never, ever use [ethnic cleansing] — and there is no such an effort on the ground, force against civilians," the foreign policy adviser said.
Hajiyev said the Azerbaijani government sent buses to Khankandi, after Armenian residents who don't have cars asked for help, but it was not forcing people to board.
"Azerbaijan will do its utmost, utmost best and to provide such a corridor so civilians - in a decent and safe manner - could go in which direction they choose," he said.