Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev conveyed in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Baku is willing to cease anti-terrorist operations if Armenian military forces lay down their arms. This information was provided by Aliyev's press service.
"The head of state said that anti-terrorist measures will be halted if the weapons are laid down," the press office reported.
Aliyev also stressed the importance of Armenian formations disarming. He emphasized that during the anti-terrorist operations, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces do not target civilians and infrastructure; only legitimate military targets are engaged.
The Azerbaijani president highlighted that his administration had extended multiple invitations to engage in dialogue with representatives of the Armenian population in Karabakh to address reintegration matters, but these invitations were declined. Nonetheless, he stated that they were once again invited to dialogue during the ongoing localized anti-terrorist operations.
The head of state explained that Azerbaijan felt compelled to initiate these targeted anti-terrorist actions in the region in order to halt provocative and incendiary actions taken by the Armenian side. Among these actions, he cited incidents such as the planting of mines by a sabotage and reconnaissance group from Armenian forces in Karabakh, which resulted in the loss of civilian lives and police officers, as well as the shelling of Azerbaijani army units using mortars and various small arms.
"President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that these actions, including the organization of what are termed 'presidential elections' in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan on September 9, represent a continued series of deliberate provocations by Armenia and the self-proclaimed separatist entity it has established and backed. These provocations directly challenge the sovereignty of Azerbaijan," the statement reads.
The press service reported that Blinken, in turn, expressed concern about the current situation, called for an immediate ceasefire, and reiterated the US's support for direct dialogue between Baku and representatives of the Armenian population of Karabakh.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS