Baku 19° C
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Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev has directly answered the provocative questions of the German ZDF Television Broadcasting Company.
Hajiyev answered the questions amid anti-Azerbaijani hysteria in Europe and clearly outlined Baku’s position, Report informs via Caliber.Az.
- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated in late 2023 that he considered the southern regions of Armenia to be Azerbaijani ones. Is President Aliyev’s goal now to recapture territory from Armenia?
- President Aliyev did not say this, and I regret that it was misinterpreted in the international media. In the original context, he said that Azerbaijanis have always lived on the territory of present-day Armenia. My ancestors also lived on the territory of present-day Armenia. We are talking about interpersonal contacts. Azerbaijanis must also have the right to visit this territory, such as cultural sites and cemeteries. This does not imply territorial claims against Armenia.
As for the Zangazur corridor, we hope that Armenia will fulfill its obligations. According to the 2020 tripartite statement, Armenia agreed to provide Azerbaijanis with unhindered access from “mainland” Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan. However, Armenia has not fulfilled its obligation yet.
- Is the possibility of launching a military strike against Armenia being discussed in Azerbaijan?
- Surely not. There is no military impact because Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity. Azerbaijan carried out operations only on its territory and in accordance with the UN Charter, Article 51 of which envisages the right to self-defense. There must be no double standards and a selective attitude towards territorial integrity.
- Currently, there is a discussion about the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, of which Azerbaijan is a member because many PACE members criticize Azerbaijan for trends in foreign and domestic policy. Now Azerbaijan wants to leave this assembly. Why?
- I'm very sorry about it. However, some PACE members, especially from Germany, like to teach everyone a lesson. We also have great concerns about some events in the West, for example, on migrants' rights in the EU. We are also concerned about the consequences of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. However, PACE members remain silent on all these issues and only insult Azerbaijan.
- As a result, were PACE members not invited to observe the snap presidential elections in Azerbaijan?
- Azerbaijan has no obligations to PACE regarding inviting observers. We have obligations to the OSCE. We are cooperating, and currently OSCE representatives are in Baku in connection with the snap presidential elections. I regret that some PACE members are undermining the general spirit of cooperation within the Council of Europe. I don't know their goals. We think that this is counterproductive. I think that Azerbaijan brought great benefits to PACE.
- Several journalists were arrested in Azerbaijan for investigating corruption in the government in November and December 2023. Were they arrested because of their investigation?
- The agencies that claimed to be investigating corruption were themselves involved in corruption. Some media outlets received $300,000 through illegal money laundering channels for their activity in Azerbaijan. We also have a legal right to ask media organizations about their funding, while these agencies were not transparent. They continued their illegal money laundering activity by using illegal sources outside Azerbaijan.
