The reaction of Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian's remarks at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) again shows the complete absence of arguments, Tigran Balayan, Spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry, says on Twitter.
To recall, in his address delivered at SIPRI on November 26, Nalbandian said "The more the international community appeals to the sides of the conflict to prepare populations for peace and not for war, the more we hear from the Azerbaijani leadership increasing bellicose warmongering, anti-Armenian hate-speech, persecution of those civil society activists who pursue confidence building and reconciliation projects. The more the international community is calling on the sides to withdraw snipers from the line of contact and to create a mechanism of investigation of ceasefire violations, the more sniper shootings, provocative incidents, subversive acts are coming from the Azerbaijani side, resulting in numerous casualties".
Azerbaijan's response was not slow in arriving. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hikmet Hajiyev said that if Armenia stops the "occupation of Azerbaijani territories", there will be no military incidents. "The Armenian regime, which has lost its influence on the public due to its unsuccessful domestic and foreign policy and is perceived in the world as an irresponsible and unreliable partner, is trying to excuse itself in the person of Nalbandian by using lie and slander", Hajiyev said.