The presence of a gray zone on the territory of Azerbaijan is unacceptable, and Baku will never accept the existence of a separatist illegal regime. This was stated to journalists by the assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Hikmet Hajiyev. According to him, the illegal regime must be liquidated and disarmed.
Speaking about the Agdam-Khankyandi road, which has been actively discussed in recent days as an alternative to the Lachin corridor for the supply of goods to Karabakh, Hajiyev noted that this is "the shortest and most convenient way to supply the Armenians of Karabakh, and foreign diplomats who arrived here can see this with their own eyes" . According to the presidential aide, Karabakh's refusal to accept 40 tons of wheat flour supplied by the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society because of the country of production is "nothing but a manifestation of racism and discrimination."
By opening the Agdam-Khankyandi road, Azerbaijan has demonstrated its readiness to start the process of reintegration of the Karabakh Armenians, guaranteeing their rights, security and obligations within the framework of national legislation. However, the ruling regime in Karabakh and Armenia, according to Hajiyev, turn the issue of the road into a subject of political manipulation and speculation. This is confirmed by an attempt to transport various cargoes through the Lachin corridor without agreement with Azerbaijan.
Hikmet Hajiyev stressed that the Lachin road could be opened a day after the opening of the Agdam-Khankyandi road. However, according to him, to enter Lachin, it will be necessary to pass the Azerbaijani border and customs control, since "Baku cannot allow weapons, mines, and other prohibited goods to continue to be transported along this road."
Chairman of the National Assembly of Nagorno-Karabakh David Ishkhanyan, in turn, announced the clear decision of the authorities to leave the Aghdam-Stepanakert road closed. The essence of such a position is as follows: there is one, Lachin, corridor, and the concept of the second, according to Ishkhanyan, should not be fixed. He considers the step of the Azerbaijanis unacceptable, but understands its purpose: they want to show the world that they care about the needs of the inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh, and at the expense of the Red Crescent, they are trying to oust the International Committee of the Red Cross from Nagorno-Karabakh.
