Official Baku shows strong reaction to Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani`s opinion 

ArmInfo. Official Baku has shown a strong reaction to the opinion Iranian Ambassador to Armenia  Mehdi Sobhani voiced during his interview with CivilNet. 

"We strongly condemn baseless and provocative opinions voiced by  Mehdi Sobhani, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the  Republic of Armenia during his interview to Armenian CivilNet  platform on November 10, 2023," said Spokesperson for Azerbaijan's  Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aykhan Hajizada as he commented on the  opinion Mr Sobhani voiced during that interview.

"These opinions, which undermine the relations between Azerbaijan and  Iran which are based on mutual respect for each other's territorial  integrity and sovereignty, contradict the position expressed by the  Iranian President during the meeting between the two countries on  November 9, 2023, in Tashkent. During the aforementioned meeting,  Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran,  mentioned with pleasure that Azerbaijan ensured its territorial  integrity after many years and Garabagh returned to Azerbaijan.

"Against the backdrop of the remarks of the President of Iran, as  well as recent positive dynamics in the development of bilateral  relations between Azerbaijan and Iran, we consider the position of  the Iranian Ambassador against our territorial integrity and  sovereignty as a provocation.

"We expect Iran to prevent such steps, which are inappropriate to the  spirit of our relations, as well as to take necessary steps regarding  the opinions voiced by the Ambassador," the ministry added.

Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani in an interview with  Civilnet spoke about the need to preserve the rights of the people of  Artsakh.

"What is the official stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran  regarding the last invasion of Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh  and the rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh?

"See, the official stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding  Nagorno-Karabakh has been announced before; We recognize the  territorial integrity of both Armenia and Azerbaijan in accordance  with international and UN law, but this does not mean that the rights  of those people who are there should be violated. We believe that the  rights of the people of Karabakh, the rights of each of the people of  Karabakh should be ensured, they should be able to determine their  rights, to have the right of self-determination.  This is a reality  that no one, including Azerbaijan, can ignore.

"When the Karabakh crisis happenned and displaced people from  Nagorno-Karabakh entered the soil of Armenia, a group of displaced  people were in Kapan, I went and met them, and when I talked to them  asked them why they left there, and they said they didn't feel safe  for their lives. A country that considers others its citizens must  provide such conditions for those citizens and those people so that  they feel safe and do not leave their territory, or soil, or homes.  Their request was that the international assemblies help so that they  return to their homes and their rights be provided. And we advocate  provision of the legal and legitimate rights of the inhabitants of  Karabakh."