Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry responds to Nikol Pashinyan

"The interview of the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera can be regarded as another populist statement," Spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva said in response to a media request to comment on what the Armenian Prime Minister said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

Report informs that, according to Leyla Abdullayeva, speaking about the phenomenon of “Armenian-phobia” in his interview, Pashinyan cites false examples that have nothing to do with reality: “So, he claims that Mkhitaryan was not able to participate in the final match of the UEFA Europa League in Baku allegedly due to being an Armenian. It should be reminded that Azerbaijan circulated official information about the complete safety of all players, including Mkhitaryan, player of Arsenal football club, as well as all fans of the UEFA Europa League final match, held in Baku on May 29 of this year. Mkhitaryan did not come to Azerbaijan to participate in the final game of the Europa League on the basis of his own decision, while Azerbaijan provided all the relevant guarantees. We would also like to note that athletes of Armenian descent have repeatedly participated in numerous sports competitions, still held in Azerbaijan, and during the European Games, the head of state even personally presented the award to a player of Armenian descent.

"In a bid to somehow justify his unfounded allegations, the Armenian Prime Minister shared another fabrication, citing a false 'example' of the alleged arrest of a driver who was listening to the Armenian music in the capital of Azerbaijan.

"As for the thoughts regarding the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, expressed by Pashinyan, we would like to note that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan at the meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, held on October 3 this year in Sochi, directly and unequivocally voiced views in the context of conflict resolution, pointing out the need to do so within the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, internationally accepted UN Charter, resolutions of the UN Security Council and Helsinki Final Act. The settlement of the conflict on precisely these foundations will bring stability, prosperity and progress to our region," Abdullayeva said.