BAKU. Sept 27 (Interfax) - The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry believes that Armenia should stop simulating a negotiation process and take concrete steps to ensure peace in the South Caucasus.
"Armenia needs to finally stop this imitation of talks and to take real, constructive steps. There is no other alternative to the peaceful development of the region," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance in Azerbaijan, which is marked on September 27.
Baku initiated a process for normalizing relations with Yerevan on the basis of strict adherence to the principles of international law, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of international borders, it said.
The ministry called on Armenia to respect these fundamental principles and to honor all international commitments for the sake of peace, security and wellbeing in the region.
"Over the past two years, Azerbaijan has been taking large-scale restoration measures in the liberated territories - in Karabakh and East Zangezur. In particular, it has been implementing major infrastructure projects and is taking purposeful steps to facilitate the safe return of around a million displaced people to their homes," the ministry said.
Furthermore, in accordance with the November 10, 2020 trilateral statement, Baku has been taking measures to establish lasting peace and stability in the region.
"Armenia, by contrast, has been demonstrating a revanchist position. It has not fulfilled all of its commitments, has yet to withdraw the remnants of its armed formations from the region, is planting new mines, is posing a serious threat to security, one may say, is not taking practical steps to open transport routes in the region, and is continuing military provocations, thus seriously undermining post-conflict normalization attempts," the ministry said.
Hostilities in the Karabakh conflict zone broke out on September 27, 2020.
In the early hours of November 10, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia adopted a trilateral statement on a ceasefire. In the wake of that war, a Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh for five years. This agreement shall automatically be extended for further five-year terms unless one of the parties decides to terminate it.