Azerbaijani MFA condemns provocations committed by Armenia on border

"According to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, in recent days, the Armenian armed forces have continued provocations on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border in the direction of the Kalbajar district," said the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

"On December 8, 2021, Aliyev Asif Adil, a serviceman of the Azerbaijani Army, was martyred due to another provocation in the direction of the Kalbajar district of the state border.

"On December 9-10, Armenian military units from the combat positions located in the direction of Basarkechar region subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions in Kalbajar. As a result of relevant measures taken by the Azerbaijan Army Units, the opposing side was suppressed.

"While Azerbaijan is taking appropriate steps to normalize post-conflict relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the continuation of the subversive activities of the Armenian side on the eve of the Moscow meeting of the 3 + 3 format consultative mechanism demonstrates the country's aggressive position and regional peacebuilding efforts.

"The Armenian military-political leadership bears full responsibility for the tension on the border between the two countries and the bloody crime committed in the direction of Kalbajar.

"The accusation of the Armenian Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan of violating the sovereign territories of this country is entirely unfounded. In order to prevent such false accusations, Azerbaijan supports the start of talks on the delimitation of the border between the two states as soon as possible.

"If Armenia really wants peace and stability in the region, it must take tangible steps to normalize relations and end imitations.

"We call on the Armenian side to refrain from attempts to obstruct the peace process by creating deliberate tensions in the region and fully implement the trilateral statements according to its commitments," the MFA said.