January 23, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev.
During a telephone conversation, the Secretary of State expressed concern in connection with the situation “prevailing on the Lachinsky Road” on the territory of Azerbaijan. Blinken expressed the commitment of the US to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, support for negotiations under a peace treaty.
noting that there is no blockade on the Lachin -Khandi road, Aliyev emphasized that from December 12, 2022, about 980 vehicles were provided along this road, of which more than 850 belonged to Russian peacekeepers, and over 120 – the International Red Cross Committee of the Red Cross . In addition, the president that through the International Committee of the Red Cross, about 90 patients and persons in need of medical care were transported to Armenia in Armenia. Aliyev emphasized that all this indicates that the Road of Lachin-Khandi is not closed by Azerbaijan.
The head of state noted that the illegal operation of mineral deposits in the Azerbaijani territories where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed should be stopped, and in this territory it is necessary to provide an opportunity for Azerbaijan of monitoring and inspection. The President of Azerbaijan said that the Lachin road is used to illegally transfer mines produced by Armenia in 2021.
Aliyev emphasized that our country is committed to a peaceful process and normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The head of state said that the peace treaty, which will be signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, should cover only the normalization of bilateral relations based on the norms and principles of international law and the five principles represented by Azerbaijan.
The head of state also noted that the rights and safety of the civilian Armenian population living in the Karabakh economic zone of Azerbaijan will be provided on the basis of the Constitution and laws of Azerbaijan.
During a telephone conversation, an exchange of views on issues representing mutual interest took place.