ISTANBUL

Azerbaijan said Thursday that it would not participate in talks on normalization with Armenia planned in Washington next week following a US official’s “groundless” remarks.

In a statement, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reacted to remarks by US Assistant Secretary of State James O’Brien at a hearing in the US House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

The ministry said it considered the remarks a blow to bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the US.

"The groundless accusations voiced against Azerbaijan are irrelevant and undermine peace and security in the region," it said.

Azerbaijan, not only after the 2020 Karabakh War, but also for almost 30 years of Armenian occupation, has been committed to the norms and principles of international law and the peace process, it noted.

“On the contrary, the US side being a mediator has never urged Armenia, which was the aggressor and a destabilizing source in the region, to act in line with international law and to withdraw from the territories of Azerbaijan and to end the occupation, which lays a responsibility on the US side as well.”

The US, being a non-regional country, through its actions and statements is undermining transportation security efforts of the regional countries, it said, adding “It is the sovereign right of Azerbaijan to agree with neighboring countries on how to build communication lines.”

O’Brien’s remarks that “Azerbaijan’s use of force eroded trust and raised doubts over Baku’s commitment to a comprehensive peace with Armenia have no value,” it said.

It said it was Azerbaijan who was the victim of aggression and of the use of force for almost 30 years.

It also addressed statements that the US canceled the high-level bilateral contacts it initiated with Azerbaijan.

“Consequently, the same approach will be applied equally by Azerbaijan. In these circumstances, we consider the possibility of high-level visits from the United States to Azerbaijan inappropriate as well.

“Moreover, such a unilateral approach by the United States could lead to the loss of the mediation role of the United States. Under these circumstances, it is important to note that we do not consider it possible to hold the proposed meeting on the level of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington on November 20, 2023.”