Azerbaijan MFA: 'Armenia should refrain from provocations'

"Armenian officials who want to cover up the incompetence of their army and try to change the domestic agenda in ugly ways should finally understand that, first of all, they should avoid provocations in order to ensure stability in their country and take concrete steps in the direction of normalization and peace with neighboring countries," the Azerbaijani Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva said, Report informs.

Abdullayeva made the remarks while answering a reporter's question: "In recent days, the Armenian officials have been voicing information about the alleged loss of more than 400 people of the Azerbaijani Army during the military provocation that took place on September 12-14 of the current year. We would like to know your opinion on this."

"As you know, official information about the losses of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan in the clashes of September 12-14 was published by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan. During the prevention of large-scale military provocation by the Armenian Armed Forces, 80 of our servicemen were martyred. The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan, unlike the Defense Ministry of Armenia, provides information about our servicemen who died during military clashes by showing a complete and transparent list, and this list is posted on the website of the Ministry of Defense. Our martyrs are our source of pride, their funeral ceremonies are held with the participation of large crowds, public representatives, including state officials, and are widely covered by the mass media. We would like to emphasize once again that, unlike Armenia, the information provided by the Azerbaijani side regarding the losses of its military personnel cannot raise any doubts.

Armenian officials seem to want to influence the dissatisfied society, especially the angry parents who lost their children, by spreading false information and manipulations. Armenian officials who want to cover up the incompetence of their army and try to change the domestic agenda in ugly ways should finally understand that, first of all, they should avoid provocations in order to ensure stability in their country and take concrete steps in the direction of normalization and peace with neighboring countries. There is no other way," she said.