YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned Azerbaijan’s military aggression targeting Armenian border positions in Gegharkunik province and warned that Baku’s actions could seriously disrupt the efforts aimed at establishing stability and lasting peace in the region.

In a statement released Friday, the Armenian foreign ministry called on the international community to restrain Azerbaijan’s growing maximalist behavior.

Below is the full statement issued by the foreign ministry.

“On September 1, the armed forces of Azerbaijan opened fire on the positions of the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia located in the area of Sotk and Norabak in the Gegharkunik region, which resulted in casualties of 4 killed and 1 wounded. Azerbaijan’s armed forces also used mortars and UAVs,

“During this period, the Republic of Armenia has repeatedly signaled that Azerbaijan, aiming at carrying out pre-planned military actions, deliberately and systematically is spreading disinformation. 

“The encroachments against the territorial integrity of Armenia, combined with the statements and bellicose rhetoric regularly made by the Azerbaijani side on various levels as well as channeled through various state media, are the continuation of Baku's aggressive policy aimed at settling existing problems and imposing its own will through the use of force and the threat of use of force.

“Under the conditions of targeted calls and growing pressure to lift the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, Azerbaijan’s provocation is also aimed at diverting the attention of the international community and avoiding the fulfillment of its obligations.

“We strongly condemn this kind of aggressive behavior of Azerbaijan, which is accompanied by the factual siege of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh through the 8-month-long illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor, and can seriously disrupt the efforts aimed at establishing stability and lasting peace in the region. The Republic of Armenia reaffirms its principled position that all units of Azerbaijan’s armed forces must be withdrawn from the sovereign territory of Armenia.

“We call on the international community and the actors interested in real stability in the region to restrain Azerbaijan’s daily increasing maximalist behavior through the existing mechanisms and active and clear steps in order to prevent further escalation of the situation and to bring Azerbaijan to a constructive track.”