ArmInfo. The delegation of Armenia drew the attention of the participants of the OSCE Permanent Council to the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border.
As reported to ArmInfo by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, during the meeting, the Armenian side initiated a discussion on the issue of "a military attack by Azerbaijan on the north-eastern direction of the state border of Armenia." Armenia's Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Ambassador Armen Papikyan told the participants of the event about the development of the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border since July 12, when Azerbaijan resorted to another provocation to this day, stating that the development of the situation indicates that it has been planned.
"The President of Azerbaijan, constantly voicing threats of attacking on the territory of Armenia, in particular on the capital of the Republic of Armenia - Yerevan, as well as the Zangezur district of Armenia, who constantly complains that" modern Armenia is based on Azerbaijani lands ", etc., etc. , in recent months, in the course of his public speeches, returned to warlike rhetoric, assuring his people that Azerbaijan is capable of resolving the Karabakh conflict by military means. The Armenian delegation has always drawn the attention of the OSCE participating States to the propaganda of Armenian-phobia and hatred encouraged and supported by the leadership of Azerbaijan. We see this as an instrument in the hands of the authorities of this country to unite society against an external enemy, and attempts to divert attention from internal problems: dictatorial rule, widespread corruption, the shameful state of human rights, the widespread abuse of fundamental freedoms, "the diplomat noted.
At the same time, the diplomat added that the degree of Armenian hatred has reached such a dangerous point that even in the case of easy manipulations by the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan, it can lead to military clashes, even to large-scale aggression both on the state border of Armenia and along the line of contact.
He drew attention to strikes from Grad weapons, mortars and shock UAVs against Armenian border communities, as a result of which both residential buildings and civilian infrastructure facilities of the Berd, Aygepar, Movses, Chinari, Verin-Karmiragbyur communities of Tavush region of Armenia were affected.
The Ambassador emphasized the bombing of the Aygepar kindergarten. In this context, he noted that this is not the first case of a deliberate attack on civilian infrastructure by Azerbaijan, it is ongoing, and the latest striking evidence is the April war of 2016, when the Azerbaijani side grossly violated international humanitarian law.
"This is nothing more than an expression of hatred, xenophobia and intolerance towards the Armenian people - a policy officially encouraged at the highest level in Azerbaijan. Such behavior of Azerbaijan should be clearly condemned. Moreover, the political and military leadership of Azerbaijan should bear all responsibility for this. ", Papikyan stressed.
The Ambassador also said that it is not for the first time when the Azerbaijani side is deploying its artillery batteries in settlements, thereby endangering the life of its own population. He recalled that Azerbaijan acted in the same way in April 2016. Armenian Permanent Representative to the OSCE noted that this once again proves that the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan is absolutely not interested in the security of its people, and even more so the security of the people of Armenia and Artsakh. Papikyan also mentioned the statements made by Turkey in the current situation, qualifying them as a direct encouragement of the behavior of Azerbaijan, which in the current tense situation is absolutely irresponsible and unacceptable.
In conclusion, he noted that this tension on the border with Armenia proves once again that in order to create a favorable environment for peace and prepare peoples for peace, first of all, it is necessary to reduce the threat of military force from Azerbaijan and expand the capabilities of the office of the Personal Representative of the Chairperson of the OSCE.
Papikyan stressed that initiatives aimed at creating trust between peoples, creating conditions conducive to peace, and preparing nations for peace are the only way to ensure stability in the region.