Stating that the geopolitical situation in the region is complex, Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, stated that Azerbaijan will never allow its territory to be used against neighboring countries.
Speaking in an interview with Turkey’s «Milliyet» newspaper, Hikmet Hajiyev said that the region where Azerbaijan is located currently faces a complex security environment.
«Geopolitically, the situation in our region is very complex. Approximately 200 kilometers south of Baku, a war is going on between Iran, the US, and Israel. Approximately 200 kilometers to the north, the Russia-Ukraine war continues,» the Assistant to the President said.
Hikmet Hajiyev also strongly refuted claims regarding the use of Azerbaijani territory by Israel‘s intelligence service Mossad.
According to him, Azerbaijan considers Iran a brotherly country, and this is one of the main principles of the country’s foreign policy.
«Our brothers live on the other side of the Aras River. Respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty is a fundamental principle for us. Azerbaijan will never allow its territory to be used against a neighboring country. The people living on the other side of the Aras are our brothers regardless of their nationality and religion. How could we allow this?» H. Hajiyev said.
The Assistant to the President emphasized that these claims are also technically impossible.
«How could they come here from Israel? To do so, they would have to pass through the territory of Turkey. Neither Turkey nor Azerbaijan would allow this. How could this happen? Such allegations are purely elements of dirty propaganda,» H. Hajiyev noted.