The anti-terrorism measures implemented in the Karabakh region were directed against the armed forces on the ground that posed a threat to the security of Azerbaijan and the entire region, Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration said in an interview with CNN, according to Report.
Hikmat Hajiyev noted that CNN’s reportage does not reflect the whole reality on the ground and is also one-sided and some facts should be double-checked.
He said the reality is that the separatists, the illegal entity remained in the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan being the ‘remnants of the past’ – the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia.
“But it is over now. And we are looking forward with regard to providing rights and security of average Armenian residents of Karabakh under the Constitution of Azerbaijan and ending with the ‘gray zone’ that has been in place for 30 years,” Hikmat Hajiyev said.
He noted that Azerbaijan just like any other country has the right to ensure its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
According to him, Azerbaijan was obliged to start anti-terrorist measures, and as part of measures with the use of precision-guided weapons, only the positions of the formations of the Armed Forces of Armenia were destroyed to avoid deaths among the civilian population, the locals were notified through radio and SMS messages about the need to stay away from military facilities.
