Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has responded to an article by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, labeling his statements as "distortions of reality and attempts to mislead the international community."

Ayxan Hacızadə, head of the press service of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, stated that "instead of taking real steps, Armenia presents insubstantial proposals."

In an article published by Armenpress, the Armenian Prime Minister's claims that “Azerbaijan is preparing to attack Armenia, as well as unfounded statements about the goals of the "Western Azerbaijan" community and other distorted formulations, are aimed at misleading the international community.”

Hacızadə further accused Armenia of “harboring territorial claims, fostering revanchist sentiments, and increasing its military potential”, which, according to him, "pose a threat to Azerbaijan's security."

He noted that Armenia's military budget has nearly tripled, from $600 million in 2021 to $1.6 billion in 2024.

"According to recently signed military contracts, Armenia is acquiring mainly offensive weapons capable of striking Azerbaijani territory at long distances," the statement reads.

Hacızadə also claimed that Armenia's statements about the activities and goals of the Western Azerbaijan community are entirely unfounded, as the community's main objectives are based on the right of return.

"References by the Armenian Prime Minister to the 2022 Prague meeting, the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, and provisions of the draft peace agreement, which aim to affirm that Armenia has no claims against Azerbaijan in the past, present, and future, were nullified by Pashinyan himself just a few months later, in September 2023, when he sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of the 'independence' of the separatist regime in Azerbaijan's territories," Hacızadə's commentary states.

According to Hacızadə, Armenia should have welcomed the trial taking place in Baku, rather than labeling it as theatrical.

"Instead of fulfilling its obligations, including taking concrete steps to open communication routes between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, Armenia is trying to divert attention from this process. Instead of real actions, it presents insubstantial proposals, leading to misunderstandings and distortions of reality," the statement reads.

Regarding the arms control mechanisms that the Prime Minister so diligently advocates, according to Hacızadə, Armenia has violated them in recent decades, which "allows us to conclude the insincerity of that country's position."

In his article, Pashinyan stated that if we combine the theatrical trial taking place in Baku with Azerbaijan's acquisition of billions of dollars' worth of weapons and its aggressive rhetoric, it becomes clear that real threats against Armenia's security are being generated in Azerbaijan. At the same time, Pashinyan noted that there are no prerequisites for escalation in the region and, moreover, all prerequisites for peace have been created.