Azerbaijani MFA Condemns Canadian Prime Minister’s Statement on Karabakh
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) strongly condemned and rejected the statements made by Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly on September 22 regarding the situation in Karabakh. This was conveyed in a response from MFA spokesperson Ayhan Hajizade.
Hajizade criticized the Canadian minister for distorting facts about the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, noting that the conflict ended four years ago under international law. He emphasized that Azerbaijan restored full sovereignty over the Karabakh region in 2023, ending the illegal presence of Armenian forces.
In her statement, Mélanie Joly marked the anniversary of Azerbaijan’s military operations in the region and highlighted the displacement of over 100,000 civilians, including 30,000 children, along with growing humanitarian needs. Joly criticized Azerbaijan’s actions and the blockade of humanitarian aid through the Lachin corridor, urging for constructive negotiations and a comprehensive peace treaty.
In response, the Azerbaijani MFA dismissed Canada’s position, stating, “Canada has no moral right to dictate how peace and security should be established in our region. Such biased and provocative statements only hinder progress.”
This incident follows previous accusations by Azerbaijan against US congressmen for misrepresenting facts about the country and criticism of the Dutch foreign policy program, which described the 44-day war as a “seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh.” Baku also condemned France’s travel advisory warning its citizens against visiting the South Caucasus.
