Aliyev stated the condition of ending the military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh

On September 19, it was reported that the President of Azerbaijan, Ilhom Aliyev, had a telephone conversation with the head of the US State Department, Anthony Blinken. During the negotiations, Aliyev said that the "anti-terrorist operation" started in the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh would be stopped only if the Armenian military there surrenders its weapons. This was announced on the website of the leader of Azerbaijan.

Aliyev cited the shooting and sabotage of the Azerbaijani military by the Armenian military, as well as the holding of "presidential elections" in Karabakh as the reasons for the operation.

"These actions are a continuation of deliberate provocations against the sovereignty of Azerbaijan by Armenia and the separatist organization created and supported by them," the report says.

The operation was launched "to prevent such provocative actions".

Before the start of hostilities in Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan repeatedly accused each other of opening fire and provocations. Yerevan insists that there are no Armenian soldiers on the territory of the unrecognized republic.

According to Aliyev, during the military operations, "only legitimate military targets will be destroyed", civilians and infrastructure will not be attacked.

"Armenians in the region were invited to dialogue with Baku several times, but the population refused," said the head of Azerbaijan.

Blinken called on Baku to immediately stop military operations and return to dialogue, including with representatives of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. It is noted that Aliyev expressed his readiness for this.

The Secretary of State also held talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and informed him that Washington supports Armenia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Pashinyan's website says he also spoke with Blinken about "the need to use international mechanisms to de-escalate."

Source: Daryo.uz