Ankara “closely” follows the debates on the southern Caucasus’ Lachin street, understands Azerbaijan‘s “legitimate concerns,” and expects Armenia to keep away from “provocative steps,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry mentioned on Monday.
“Türkiye has been following the longstanding debates on the Lachin street carefully and understands Azerbaijan’s official issues on the difficulty.
“Unfortunately, these concerns that Azerbaijan has voiced loudly for a long time were not taken into account, and as a result, Azerbaijan took the measures it deems appropriate within the framework of its sovereign rights,” the ministry mentioned in a press release.
Azerbaijan has known as on nations and worldwide organizations which have made anti-Azerbaijani statements to respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly regarding developments in Karabakh and the Lachin street, the one land route giving Armenia entry to the Karabakh area.
Despite ongoing talks on a peace settlement following a warfare in 2020, tensions between Baku and Yerevan have risen in current months in regards to the Lachin street, in addition to Azerbaijan’s institution of a border checkpoint on the street.
There is not any justification for the criticisms towards Azerbaijan concerning the Lachin street, Türkiye mentioned, because the ministry assertion added that Baku is making “maximum efforts” in good religion with respect to humanitarian concerns, together with medical transportation.
“Our expectation from Armenia is to avoid provocative steps, to recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, to support the use of ‘Agdam-Khankendi’ and other alternative ways to meet the needs of the Armenian population in Karabakh, as well as to support efforts to reintegrate the Armenian population of Azerbaijan,” the ministry mentioned.
Türkiye believes that to make sure peace and stability within the area, the territorial integrity, sovereignty and humanitarian efforts of Azerbaijan must be supported and actions that worsen the scenario must be averted, it added.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
