Editor-in-chief of Beirut-based Aztag daily newspaper commented on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s statement issued during plenary sitting of Euronest Parliamentary Assembly.

Aliyev called Armenians “aggressors”, “fascists” and “vandals”.

“Nagorno Karabakh issue was on meeting’s agenda neither on the first, nor on the second day. Thus, Aliyev’s statement addressed to Armenians was completely out of the context. Though the Armenian side responded to him, the Azeri leader’s words were first of all addressed to the European institutions which have their own rules that must be followed,” Shahan Kandaharian said.

“Armenian delegation’s presence during the meeting reaffirms respect for international institutions and active participation in international relations. Continuing aggressive statements, regular ceasefire violations, demolition of Armenian cultural monuments shows extreme disrespect and total disregard for principles and rules of conduct of the international community.

On April 3, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev called Armenians “fascists” during a plenary sitting of Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Baku. The statement sparked resentment of the Armenian delegation which dubbed it improper and beyond diplomatic norms. Representative of Euronest delegation and other countries also expressed discontent with Aliyev’s conduct.

Euronest inter-parliamentary union includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.